Prosecutors: Christopher Garza fatally shot Israel Pena in argument over burglary proceeds

Jeff Mayes — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 23:19:50 -0500

By RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Christopher Garza | Chicago Police

Christopher Garza and Israel C. Pena were working together when they committed a residential burglary in Rockford, the prosecutors said Friday.

But when it came to distributing the proceeds of the crime, the pair’s teamwork spirit went south, authorities said.

Garza got so mad during the disagreement on the morning of Jan. 29, he grabbed a gun and fired at Pena several times while they rode in Pena’s sister’s car, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Todd Kleist said.

After shooting the 20-year-old Pena in the chest, arm and hip, Garza took Pena’s body out of the car and dumped it in the 1200 block of West 32nd in Bridgeport, Kleist said

The car the men had been traveling in was discovered burned a half a mile away that day. Pena’s body was found soon after.

Cell phone records indicate that Garza was near the murder scene and where the burned car was abandoned, Kleist said.

Garza also allegedly admitted to another person that he had killed Pena and set the car on the fire.

Two .45 caliber shell casings were found near the body of Pena, who lived in Rockford, prosecutors said.

While in custody at Area Central recently, Garza head-butted a Chicago Police detective as he was being transported from one room to another, Kleist told Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr.

Garza, 20, smirked in court while Kleist recounted the alleged attack against the officer.

The detective suffered swelling, bruising and redness to his eyebrow and right eye, Kleist said.

Garza, of the 4500 block of South Wood, has a pending residential burglary case in Bridgeview.

He was found delinquent for two burglary cases as a juvenile. He was also found delinquent as a juvenile for a weapons and drug case.

Garza was ordered held without bail Friday for murder and aggravated battery to a police officer.

Man charged with fatal shooting of Israel Pena in Bridgeport in January

Jeff Mayes — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 11:46:17 -0500

By LUKE WILUSZ
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Christopher Garza | Chicago Police

A South Side man has been charged with the fatal shooting of Israel C. Pena of Rockford in the Bridgeport neighborhood in January.

Christopher Garza, 20, was identified as the man who shot Pena on Jan. 29, according to a statement from Chicago Police. Garza, of the 4500 block of South Wood, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

He was also charged with a felony count of aggravated battery to a police officer after police said he head-butted a detective while being questioned about an unrelated incident.

Officers found the 20-year-old Pena unresponsive on the ground with a gunshot wound to the chest in the 1200 block of West 32nd Street about 3:10 a.m. on Jan. 29, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Pena, who lived in the 800 block of Montague Street in Rockford, was dead at the scene, authorities said.

Garza was expected to appear in bond court Friday, police said.

Christopher Garza | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: Christopher Garza fatally shot Israel Pena in argument over burglary proceeds

Man charged with fatal shooting of Israel Pena in Bridgeport in January