Santino Hernandez charged in murder of 15-year-old Jeyson Gonzalez in Brighton Park

David Struett — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 10:39:57 -0600

A third person has been charged with the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy in October in the Brighton Park neighborhood.

Santino Hernandez | Chicago Police

Santino Hernandez, 18, of the Galewood neighborhood, faces felony counts of first-degree murder and aggravated battery with the discharge of a handgun in the Oct. 26 death of Jeyson Gonzalez, according to Chicago Police.

Gonzalez and a 14-year-old boy were shot about 3:35 p.m. in the 2500 block of West 45th Street, authorities said. Gonzalez, of the West Englewood neighborhood, was struck in the side and the 14-year-old was struck in the lower back. Both were taken to Stroger Hospital, where Gonzalez died.

First-degree murder charges have also been filed against a 17-year-old boy and Flor Perez, 18, who prosecutors said was the getaway driver.

At a Nov. 21 bond hearing for Perez, prosecutors said she was driving Hernandez and the 17-year-old boy around in a Pontiac minivan when they drove by Gonzalez and the 14-year-old in the 4400 block of South Maplewood and “false flagged” them.

Flor Perez | Chicago Police

Santino and the 17-year-old boy — members of the 2-6 street gang — gave the teens the hand sign of the rival Satan’s Disciples gang, Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Coelho said. When Gonzalez returned the Disciples sign, Hernandez and the 17-year-old told Perez to drive to a nearby alley and park.

Hernandez and the boy then got out, walked toward Gonzalez and opened fire, Coelho said. When they got back into the van, Perez drove them away.

At Perez’s bond hearing, prosecutors said she admitted in a videotaped statement that she knew the shooting would take place. Judge Mary Marubio noted that Perez had no criminal record before her arrest for the murder, and her bail was set at $75,000.

Hernandez appeared in court for a bond hearing Sunday, but his bail was not immediately available Sunday night. Police did not release additional information about the 17-year-old because he is a juvenile.

—Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Flor Perez charged as getaway driver in Brighton Park gang murder of Jeyson Gonzalez

David Struett — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:48:49 -0600

By ANDY GRIMM

An 18-year-old woman who allegedly drove her boyfriend away from the scene of a fatal Brighton Park shooting that claimed the life of a 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder.

Flor Perez | Chicago Police

Flor Perez was ordered held in lieu of $75,000 bail Tuesday on a first-degree murder charge tied to the Oct. 26 shooting that left Jeyson Gonzalez dead and injured another teenage boy.

Cook County prosecutors allege that Perez, her boyfriend and another, unidentified man were in a Pontiac mini van in the 4400 block of South Maplewood Avenue when they passed Gonzalez and a 14-year-old friend, Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Coelho said.

The two men with Perez were members of the 2-6 street gang, and “false flagged” the teens, throwing up hand gestures of the rival Satan’s Disciples gang as they passed Gonzalez and the 14-year-old, Coelho said.

When Gonzalez returned the Satan’s Disciple gesture, the two men told Perez to drive the mini van into an alley nearby, then got out, walked toward Gonzalez and opened fire, Coelho said.

Gonzalez was shot once in the side, and the 14-year-old was struck three times.

The two gunmen went back to the van and Perez drove them away, Coelho said.

Perez initially lied about where she and her boyfriend were the night of the shooting when she was questioned by officers at her home, according to police reports.

Coelho said the 18-year-old later admitted in a videotaped statement that she knew that the shooting was going to take place, drove into the alley, heard the gunshots and drove her two cohorts from the scene.

Assistant Public Defender Brett Balmer said Perez lived with a friend and her friend’s mother, and that the teen’s own mother lived in Mexico. Perez’s father is dead, Balmer said.

Judge Mary Marubio noted that Perez had no criminal record before her arrest for the murder, a factor that weighed in favor of granting the teen bond.

“That is quite a case to come out of the gate with,” Marubio said, peering down at Perez.

If Perez is able to post the $7,500 required to secure her release on bond, she will have to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.

–Chicago Sun-Times

Flor Perez | Homicide Watch Chicago

Santino Hernandez charged in murder of 15-year-old Jeyson Gonzalez in Brighton Park

Flor Perez charged as getaway driver in Brighton Park gang murder of Jeyson Gonzalez