Zack Stinson gets 20 years for fatal shooting of Gabriel Menses during 2014 argument in Portage Park

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 10:37:23 -0600

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Zachary 'Zack' Stinson | Illinois Dept. of Corrections

A man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for fatally shooting Gabriel Menses during an argument in the Northwest Side Portage Park neighborhood more than two years ago.

Zachary "Zack" Stinson, 27, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Monday before Judge Thomas Byrne, according to Cook County court records.

About 1 a.m. Sept. 10, 2014, Gabriel Menses called Stinson and asked to meet up in the 5100 block of West Waveland Avenue, authorities said at the time.

Menses, 31, arrived in his vehicle and found Stinson in the backseat of a blue SUV. The two began arguing through the open vehicle windows, authorities said.

The driver of the SUV tried to drive away, but Menses pulled up to block the car, authorities said. Menses and Stinson began arguing again, then Stinson pulled out a gun and shot Menses four times.

Stinson and the others in the SUV fled after the shooting, and police found Menses shot in the back in the driver's seat of his car, which had crashed into a tree and another parked vehicle, authorities said.

Menses, of the 4600 block of North Sayre Avenue in Norridge, was pronounced dead at the scene.

After the shooting, Stinson and his girlfriend fled to California, where he was arrested and extradited back to Illinois.

Judge Byrne sentenced Stinson to 20 years in prison Monday, according to court records. He will receive credit for 819 days served in the Cook County Jail, and will have to serve two years of supervised release.

Stinson was booked into the Stateville Correctional Center to begin serving his sentence Tuesday, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

He previously served a one-year sentence for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in 2011, according to IDOC records.

Prosecutors: Zack Stinson fatally shot Gabriel Menses during Portage Park argument

Michael Lansu — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 16:31:38 -0500

Zachary Stinson / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Zack Stinson was ordered held without bond Wednesday after prosecutors said he fatally shot Gabriel Menses during a dispute in the Portage Park neighborhood.

Menses, 31, called Stinson about 1 a.m. Sept. 10 and asked to meet up in the 5100 block of West Waveland Avenue, said Assistant State's Attorney Alex Molesky.

When Menses arrived he found Stinson, 24, in the backseat of a blue SUV and the two began to argue through the open windows, authorities said.

The driver of the SUV tried to drive away, but Menses pulled up to block the car, authorities said.

Menses and Stinson began arguing again, then Stinson pulled out a gun and shot Menses four times, Molesky said.

Stinson and the others in the SUV fled after the shooting, and responding police officers found Menses shot in the back in the driver's seat of his car, which had crashed into a tree and parked vehicle, authorities said.

Menses, of the 4600 block of North Sayre Avenue in Norridge, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Molesky said Stinson was positively identified in photographs and a photo array by witnesses.

After the shooting, Stinson and his girlfriend fled to California, where he was arrested and extradited back to Illinois, Molesky said.

He has a pending misdemeanor driving under the influence case and was convicted of a weapons charge in 2013, according to court records.

During a Wednesday bond hearing, Stinson's public defender said Stinson has a 3-year-old daughter and noted the shooting happened during an argument.

Judge Laura Sullivan ordered Stinson held without bond.

-- Contributing: Rummana Hussain

Zack Stinson | Homicide Watch Chicago

Zack Stinson gets 20 years for fatal shooting of Gabriel Menses during 2014 argument in Portage Park

Prosecutors: Zack Stinson fatally shot Gabriel Menses during Portage Park argument