Murder charge against 20-year-old for fatal shooting of Albertano Medrano, who was driving to grocery when killed

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 11:40:49 -0500

By DANIEL BROWN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

A 20-year-old man has been charged with murder for the fatal shooting of 44-year-old Albertano Medrano, shot as he and his wife drove to the grocery Sunday afternoon in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.

Victor Vazquez | Chicago Police

Victor Vazquez faces one felony count of first-degree murder, according to Chicago Police.

About 4 p.m., Medrano was driving in the 4500 block of South Hermitage when three people in a white van began to harass him, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

A family member said Medrano and his wife had just left home to go the store to buy food.

Medrano kept driving away from the van, when one of the passengers inside opened fire, striking him in the head, neck and back, authorities said. His vehicle then crashed into three other vehicles before coming to a stop.

Albertano Medrano | Facebook

Medrano, who lived in the 1800 block of West 46th Street, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:30 p.m., the medical examiner’s office said.

Officers responding to the shooting spotted Vazquez, who matched the suspect description, running away from the scene, police said.

He was apprehended and subsequently identified as the shooter, according to police. Another person was taken into custody with Vazquez, but was later released without charges.

Vazquez, who lives in the 4700 block of South Laflin, was scheduled to appear in bond court Wednesday.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with funeral expenses for Medrano, a Mexican immigrant who worked at Las Palmas restaurant in Wicker Park.

Victor Vazquez | Homicide Watch Chicago

Murder charge against 20-year-old for fatal shooting of Albertano Medrano, who was driving to grocery when killed