Anthony Diaz | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: Anthony Diaz, 13, was shot in midst of others' fight in Belmont Cragin community

Michael Lansu — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 16:14:05 -0600

Roberto Madrigal / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Like others in the crowd who descended on the Northwest Side parking lot Sunday night, the 13-year-old wanted to see the fight between the two females who were duking it out on social media and in text messages just days before.

But when it was over, it was Anthony who bore the brunt of the violent evening, succumbing to the bullets fired by 18-year-old Roberto Madrigal — another spectator at the rumble, prosecutors said.

Anthony was later pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds, authorities said.

Anthony and his friends had come to the parking lot, in the 6000 block of West Grand Avenue, where the two females had agreed to settle the score, Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini said.

Madrigal had already been waiting with seven of his friends, Santini said.

The two females went over the rules of the fight before they began hitting each other, Santini said.

As they swung away, two people from the group of 14 allegedly recorded the physical altercation on their cell phones.

When one of the females started to “get the better of the other,” her friends jumped in and soon, a melee ensued with most those who came to watch, Santini said.

Moments later, Anthony started to walk away.

Madrigal, seen walking in the same direction, pulled out a gun from his waistband and shot Anthony four times, Santini said.

Madrigal was seen running from the scene with the weapon in his hand before he got into the car with his friends, Santini said.

Anthony Diaz / Submitted photo

He later allegedly admitted that he pulled the trigger to others.

Several witnesses had heard Madrigal discuss a gun and ammunition prior to arriving at the parking lot over the weekend, Santini said.

He had the driver of a car he was traveling in pull over to a home where he emerged from five minutes later, Santini said.

From there, Madrigal and his friends proceeded to the site of the scheduled fight, Santini said.

Anthony’s stepfather, Ralph Otero, 47, told the Sun-Times that Anthony and two of his sisters, ages 15 and 17, had gone to the parking lot to confront someone about Facebook posts.

Prosecutors, however, refused to discuss the ages or relationship of Anthony to the two females involved in the fight.

Madrigal, who appeared in court Friday with black jeans, white Nikes and a camouflage printed dress shirt, was identified by a handful of witnesses, authorities said.

Judge James Brown ordered Madrigal, of the 2700 block of North Laramie Avenue, held without bond. He will be back in court March 4.

Comment of the Day: "[Facebook] comments are still getting young people killed"

Michael Lansu — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 16:18:49 -0600

Anthony Diaz, 13, was fatally shot Feb. 8 in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood after family said he went out to solve a dispute that started over a Facebook post. Reader "warrmack" posted this about the killing:

FB comments are still getting young people killed. My niece Endia was shot and killed over the same BS. FB has put some families in very bad situations. My condolences to the family.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Four killed throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 10:09:04 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Two people were shot to death, and two others were fatally stabbed, last week in Chicago.

Two more people also died last week from violent injuries suffered earlier this year, authorities said.

The most recent slaying happened when 13-year-old Anthony Diaz was fatally shot in the 6000 block of West Grand Avenue in the Belmont Cragin community, authorities said. Family said Diaz and his sisters had left their home to confront someone over Facebook posts.

Diaz, 2100 block of North McVicker Avenue, died less than an hour later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

In the Roseland neighborhood, police found 48-year-old Janice Coleman stabbed to death inside a home in the 11300 block of South Parnell Avenue about noon Sunday, authorities said.

On Wednesday, 20-year-old Curtis Lyons was shot in the 3100 block of West 84th Place in the Ashburn community, authorities said.

Prosecutors said Lyons was part of a group hanging out in the basement of Joshua Poe's residence when Poe, who had been smoking synthetic marijuana earlier in the day, shot Lyons in the head.

Lyons, of the 8000 block of South Richmond Street, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office. Another man, 19, was also wounded.

Poe was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm, police said. He was ordered held without bond.

The killing started when 60-year-old Linda Sanders was found beaten and stabbed to death insider her Grand Boulevard home in the 400 block of East 48th Street about 8:45 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

Prosecutors claimed Sanders' son, 40-year-old Dwight Brown, came over for dinner Sunday night and beat and stabbed his mother to death when her husband went to work for an overnight shift. Her body was found on the couple's 24th wedding anniversary.

Brown, of the 6200 block of South Dorchester Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery was ordered held without bond, authorities said.

Additionally, two people died last week from violent injuries suffered earlier in this year.

Kenneth Guise, 38, of Kaukauna, Wis., died Thursday night after being shot Jan. 29 during a party in the 11900 block of South Yale Avenue in the West Pullman neighborhood, authorities said.

Myron Collier, 24, of the 10000 block of South Pulaski Road, was also wounded in the shooting and died at the scene, authorities said.

Christopher Cage, 27, of the 300 block of West 109th Place, was initially charged with first-degree murder for Collier's death and attempted murder for shooting Guise, authorities said. He is currently being held without bond.

Cierra Moore died Monday night after being stabbed in a domestic fight at a Roseland gas station in the 10000 block of South Michigan Avenue Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

Prosecutors claimed Moore's girlfriend, 23-year-old Eliza Roper, stabbed Moore during a fight at the gas station. Moore, 27, of Calumet City, was able to drive away, but was found unresponsive in the car about a block away, authorities said.

Roper, also of Calumet City, was charged with first-degree murder and was ordered held on $400,000 bond.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 35 Chicago deaths in 2015 a homicide.

Family: Anthony Diaz, 13, shot dead during Belmont Cragin confrontation over Facebook

Michael Lansu — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 09:14:42 -0600

Anthony Diaz / Submitted photo

BY ASHLEE REZIN
Sun-Times Media

A 13-year-old boy who was shot to death Sunday night in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood had sneaked out of his home with his sisters to confront someone over posts on Facebook, according to a family member.

Anthony Diaz and two of his sisters, ages 15 and 17, left their Northwest Side home about 10:35 p.m. Sunday to confront someone over Facebook posts, said Anthony’s stepfather, Ralph Otero, 47. He said the teens got jumped and somebody pulled out a gun.

Police said the boy was walking with a group in the 6000 block of West Grand Avenue when someone walked up and opened fire, striking him in the left side of his body. The bullet exited through his chest.

Otero and his wife were sleeping when they got a call from Anthony’s sister saying he had been shot.

“My 17-year-old called and said somebody had gotten shot. She said, ‘it’s Anthony, it’s Anthony. Anthony got shot,’” Otero said.

The shooting happened near the family’s home in the 2100 block of North McVicker Avenue.

“I saw him lying on the ground about a block away from our house,” Otero said.

The teen was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:26 p.m., authorities.

Otero, an evangelical preacher, said they moved to the neighborhood in November from the Hermosa neighborhood. Anthony was one of six siblings.

“We just moved there from a bad area because it’s supposed to be better, and this is what we got,” Otero said.

“He’s a good student, he’s not a gangbanger. He didn’t give us any headaches,” Otero said.

He said Anthony, who went to Burbank Elementary School, loved basketball and watched the Bulls game Sunday evening.

“This is unbelievable,” Otero said.

-- Contributing: Jordan Owen and George Slefo, Network Video Productions