Mario Ortega is second man charged in 2013 killing of Cayetano Sandoval in Logan Square

Jeff Mayes — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 14:45:38 -0500

By LUKE WILUSZ
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

A gang member already in custody for a 2012 murder is now the second person to be charged with robbing and killing 68-year-old Cayetano Sandoval as he was returning home from work in Logan Square in late 2013.

Mario Ortega | Cook County sheriff's office

Mario Ortega, 20; and Joshua Johnson, 23, approached Sandoval after he parked his car in the 1900 block of North Spaulding Avenue around 2 a.m. on Dec. 12, 2013, coming home from his job at a bakery, according to Cook County court documents. Prosecutors said Ortega, also known as “King Krazy,” and Johnson are both Latin Kings.

Ortega ran up behind Sandoval and began to punch him repeatedly “without provocation” while Johnson held him down and went through his pockets, according to prosecutors. Witnesses reported hearing Sandoval screaming for help.

After he finished beating Sandoval, Ortega stood over the man–who was “still lying on the ground writhing in pain”–and fired several shots at him, prosecutors said. Sandoval was struck four times in the chest and body.

Joshua Johnson | Cook County sheriff's office

Ortega was arrested about 10 hours after the shooting on an unrelated narcotics charge and was later charged with murder for a 2012 shooting in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, prosecutors said. In that incident, he was charged with shooting a man to death in the 4600 block of West Ohio on Sept. 20, 2012. He has remained in custody ever since.

He is now charged with the murder and attempted armed robbery of Sandoval, according to prosecutors.

Johnson was charged with murder and attempted robbery last month when he appeared in court in Rolling Meadows on an unrelated case, the Chicago Sun-Times reported at the time.

A person who personally knows both suspects witnessed the shooting from a parked car nearby and identified Ortega and Johnson, prosecutors said. The crime was also captured on surveillance video from a local bar.

Cayetano Sandoval

A friend whose home the two suspects were at before and after the shooting also gave police a statement, prosecutors said, and Johnson admitted he struck Sandoval and held him down while Ortega shot him.

Both men are being held without bond, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office. Johnson was expected to appear in court Friday, while Ortega’s next court date is scheduled for July 9 in Skokie.

Prosecutors: Gang members fatally shot Cayetano Sandoval, 68, during Logan Square robbery

Michael Lansu — Sat, 16 May 2015 16:55:24 -0500

Joshua Johnson / Photo from Chicago Police

BY TINA SFONDELES
Chicago Sun-Times

An alleged gang member has been charged with murder after prosecutors said him and a friend fatally shot a 68-year-old man during a 2013 robbery in the Logan Square neighborhood.

Joshua Johnson, 23, was nabbed at the Rolling Meadows courthouse on Friday when he appeared for an unrelated case.

He now also faces first-degree murder charges for the Dec. 12, 2013, shooting death of Cayetano Sandoval in the 1900 block of North Spaulding Avenue.

Prosecutors said Sandoval had just returned home from his job at a bakery when Johnson and another man approached him after he parked his van about 2 a.m.

Johnson demanded Sandoval give them money and began hitting him. Johnson held Sandoval down and the other man took out a gun and opened fire, prosecutors said.

Sandoval was shot five times and died at the scene, authorities said.

Prosecutors said the robbers, both Latin Kings gang members, fled after the shooting.

Surveillance cameras captured the murder, and several witnesses also saw the shooting, prosecutors said.

The robbers fled to a friend's home, and that friend gave police a statement about the murder, prosecutors said.

Cayetano Sandoval

Johnson himself admitted he hit Sandoval as they tried to rob him and also held him down as the other man shot him, prosecutors said.

Despite not pulling the trigger, Johnson was charged with murder and attempted armed robbery. The other man has not yet been charged.

Johnson, whose home address is listed as the 8500 block of South Avalon Avenue and the 1900 block of Oakton Street in Elk Grove Village, has previously been convicted of felony residential burglary and felony burglary.

On Saturday, Judge Peggy Chiampas ordered Johnson held without bond. He will be back in court Monday.

Joshua Johnson | Homicide Watch Chicago

Mario Ortega is second man charged in 2013 killing of Cayetano Sandoval in Logan Square

Prosecutors: Gang members fatally shot Cayetano Sandoval, 68, during Logan Square robbery