WEEK IN REVIEW: At least six killed in citywide shootings

Michael Lansu — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 09:03:14 -0600

At least six people were murdered throughout the city last week, but none since Thursday night.

The most recent murder happened Thursday night in the Little Village neighborhood when 17-year-old Javier Gonzalez was shot in the head and arm in the 3000 block of South Karlov Avenue about 7:50 p.m., authorities said. Gonzalez, of the 3100 block of South Komensky Avenue, died Friday afternoon at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

About two hours earlier, Amanda Fitch was inside a vehicle at a gas station when she was shot in the 6600 block of South Stony Island Avenue, authorities said. Fitch, 24, of the 4700 block of South Ellis Avenue, died about an hour later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the medical examiner's office.

On Thursday morning, Michael Walker, 35, was shot in a gangway in the 8200 block of South Drexel Avenue about 8:45 a.m. Thursday, authorities said. Walker, 35, of the 8100 block of South Ingleside Avenue, died about an hour later at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Walker was a professional boxer looking to turn his career around, his manager, Damian Walton said. Walker, known in the ring as “The Midnight Stalker,” began boxing professionally in 2004 and won his first 18 fights, according to online boxing records. He began losing in mid-2008 and died with a career record of 19-19.

In Englewood, 21-year-old Devorite Diggins and another man were shot at a gas station in the 5900 block of South Halsted Street about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Diggins, of the 6200 block of South Aberdeen Street, was dead on the scene, authorities said. The other man, 21, was shot in the arm and initially taken in "stable" condition to Stroger Hospital.

Trevonti Carson, 26, of the 5700 block of South Green Street, has been charged with murder in the killing, police said.

In Pilsen, a gunman in a passing van fatally shot 19-year-old Uriel Quinones, of the 2300 block of West 22nd Street, about 11:30 p.m. in the 2200 block of South Oakley Avenue, authorities said.

The shooting started last week when UPS employee Michael Sullivan was shot and killed on his way to work during a robbery in the 4200 block of West Lake Street about 11 p.m. Tuesday, authorities said.

Derrick Williams, 20, and Rayshon Williams, 16, have been charged with murder in Sullivan's death. Prosecutors said the two tried to rob Sullivan and shot him in the face when he walked away.

Additionally, officers found 18-year-old Aaron Hubbard dead in a stairwell in the 5900 block of South Winchester Avenue about 3:30 p.m. Monday, authorities said. Hubbard, of the 6500 block of South Marshfield Avenue, was shot multiple times and the death was ruled a homicide.

Investigators believe Hubbard was kidnapped and was reported missing about a week ago, a police source said. Authorities said Hubbard’s death was related to the death of Corderro Brown, who was found murdered Nov. 3 in a back stairwell 1.5 miles away in the 6500 block of South Bishop Street, authorities said.

Through the same time last year, murders are down 19 percent and shootings are down 24 percent, police said.

Amanda Fitch shot to death at Woodlawn gas station

Michael Lansu — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 09:12:49 -0600

Amanda Fitch was shot dead at a Woodlawn gas station Thursday night on the South Side.

Fitch, 24, was found shot in a vehicle at 5:56 p.m. at a gas station in the 6600 block of South Stony Island Avenue, authorities said.

Investigators believe the shooter fled the scene in another vehicle, police said.

Fitch, of the 4700 block of South Ellis Avenue, was pronounced dead at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County at 6:53 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Police believe the shooting is gang related.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Amanda Fitch | Homicide Watch Chicago

WEEK IN REVIEW: At least six killed in citywide shootings

Amanda Fitch shot to death at Woodlawn gas station