Alexander Villafane | Homicide Watch Chicago

Family: Slain football coach Alexander Villafane kept kids off the street

Michael Lansu — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 11:41:38 -0600

BY EMILY GRAY BROSIOUS
Homicide Watch Chicago

Alexander Villafane named his youth football program after his second-favorite NFL team, the New England Patriots, family said.

The 39-year-old football coach did not get to see the Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX this month because he was fatally shot in the head while working on a vehicle less than a week before the game, family said.

Villafane was replacing a stolen catalytic converter when he was wounded during a Jan. 25 drive-by shooting in the 3500 block of West 24th Street, family said.

Villafane, of the 2300 block of South St. Louis Avenue, died two days later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

“I’m at a complete loss ... I would never imagine, in a million years, out of all the things that could happen, something like this.” said Villafane's stepdaughter, Jennessa Martinez.

She said her stepfather dedicated his life to keeping children on the football field and off the streets.

Villafane started the Humboldt Park football team with his brother about 10 years ago as a way to help at-risk youths, family said. He coached more than 300 children, many of whom went on to play high school or college football, Martinez said.

“It’s hard to see that the very thing he was fighting against was the thing that took his life,” she said.

Relatives described the father of four as a “family man” who was a "role model" to many.

Alexander Villafane / Family photo

“He just taught me so much as I grew up in life,” said Villafane's godson Angel Del Valle. “He didn’t give up on me. He worked with me, he worked with many of the other kids that were on the bench to better themselves so they can become better people.”

The family believes Villafane’s shooting might have been a case mistaken identity.

Witnesses only told relatives that a gunman inside a passing minivan shot Villafane, the family said during a press conference calling for more police cameras in the area.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Family members are asking anyone with information about Alexander Villafane’s murder contact Area Central detectives.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Six killed throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 10:45:52 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Five men were shot to death and another was fatally stabbed last week in Chicago.

The most recent killing happened when 23-year-old Antonio Gamboa was stabbed at a Super Bowl party in the 2300 block of South Michigan Avenue when he tried to break up a fight between an arguing couple, authorities said.

Gamboa, of the 1600 block of North Kimball Avenue, died at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

On Saturday, 22-year-old Savoy Young was shot multiple times in an alley in the 8100 block of South Chappel Avenue in the South Chicago neighborhood about 11:15 a.m., authorities said.

Young, of the 8200 block of South Luella Avenue, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner's office.

On Friday, 34-year-old Leandrew Harper was shot multiple times in the 7000 block of South Honore Street in West Englewood about 5:40 p.m., authorities said.

Harper, who lived on the block, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner's office.

On Thursday, 20-year-old Israel Pena was shot in the chest in the 1200 block of West 32nd Street in Bridgeport about 3 a.m., authorities said.

Pena, of the 800 block of Montague Street in Rockford, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner's office.

In the West Pullman neighborhood, 24-year-old Myron Collier shot in the head near East 119th Street and South Yale Avenue about 2:05 a.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Collier, of the 10000 block of South Pulaski Road, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office. A 29-year-old man was also wounded in the shooting, police said.

Christopher Cage, 27, of the 300 block of West 109th Place, was charged with first-degree murder in Collier's death, police said.

The killings started when 23-year-old Angelo Porter was shot in the head while walking in the 600 block of East 51st Street about 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, authorities said.

Porter, of an unidentified home address, later died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Additionally, 39-year-old Alexander Villafane, of the 2300 block of South St. Louis Avenue, died Tuesday after being wounded during a Jan. 25 drive-by shooting in the 3500 block of West 24th Street, authorities said.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 29 Chicago deaths in 2015 a homicide.

Chicago Police, which counts murders different by following federal guidelines, reported 28 January murders, a 40 percent increase compared to January 2014, but a decrease compared to 2012 and 2013.

Alexander Villafane, 39, dies after Little Village shooting

Michael Lansu — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 09:32:03 -0600

Alexander Villafane died after being shot Sunday in the Little Village neighborhood.

Villafane, 39, was standing next to a vehicle in the 3500 block of West 24th Street when a minivan drove past and somebody inside opened fire about 12:50 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Villafane, of the 2300 block of South St. Louis Avenue, was shot in the head and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was declared dead at 11:54 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire