Antonio Mendez | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: Thomas Santiago drove SUV over curb, grassy area to run over Antonio Mendez

Michael Lansu — Wed, 07 May 2014 14:45:53 -0500

Thomas Santiago / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A motorist who Cook County prosecutors said intentionally ran over and killed a man with his SUV over the weekend was ordered held in lieu of $900,000 bond Wednesday.

Although prosecutors and police didn’t give a motive for Saturday morning’s incident in McKinley Park, police did say the victim — Antonio Mendez — was a gang member.

Initially, 20-year-old Thomas Santiago swerved his white SUV multiple times in an apparent effort to strike a Chevrolet Cavalier in which Mendez was a passenger as both vehicles traveled on Archer Avenue, Assistant State’s Attorney Glen Runk said.

Eventually the driver of the Cavalier pulled off the road and stopped near 1841 West 33rd Pl., Runk said.

Mendez, who was in the back seat, and his two friends then got out of the car, Runk said.

But Santiago accelerated toward the Cavalier, drove his SUV over the curb, sidewalk and grassy area before ramming into Mendez, Runk said.

Mendez, 24, of the 2200 block of West 35th Place, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County less than a half hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Santiago, of the 1100 block of West 32nd Street, allegedly fled and was later seen driving off the Stevenson Expressway so he could check the SUV for front-end damage.

He then got back in the car and stated that he had hit someone, Runk said.

Santiago, whose nickname “Scrappy,” was allegedly identified by witnesses as the driver who struck Mendez.

The defendant, a father of three, is a forklift operator at UPS, according to defense attorney Tod Urban.

He has crown tattoos with the number “33” on both of his lower legs, according to a police report.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Nine murdered throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 05 May 2014 09:26:32 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Nine people were murdered last week in Chicago, and a 10th person died from injuries suffered in a mid-April shooting.

The killings included seven shooting deaths, one stabbing and one man intentionally run over by an SUV.

Four of the murders happened over the weekend, when 26 other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent murder happened when 41-year-old William Bailey was shot in the back in a garage in the 9200 block of South Emerald Avenue about 11:35 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Bailey, of the 7300 block of South Union Avenue, about an hour later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

In the Chatham neighborhood, 29-year-old Jabari Davis was fatally shot in his home in the 900 block of East 81st Street about 7:15 a.m. Sunday, authorities said. He died at the scene.

In the Austin neighborhood, 23-year-old Terrance McNeal was fatally shot during a fight on a sidewalk in the 400 block of North Leclaire Avenue about 3:15 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

McNeal, of the 400 block of North Leamington Avenue, was shot in the abdomen and arm and died at Mount Sinai Hospital, authorities said.

On Saturday, 55-year-old Rickey Hayes was fatally stabbed during a fight in the 7900 block of South Ingleside Avenue about 9:45 p.m., authorities said.

Hayes, of the 500 block of East 76th Street, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County about an hour later, according to the medical examiner's office.

In the McKinley Park neighborhood, 24-year-old Antonio Mendez was intentionally run over by an SUV during an argument in the 1800 block of West 33rd Place about 6:45 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Mendez, of the 2200 block of West 35th Place, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County less than a half hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office. An autopsy determined Mendez died from multiple injuries from an SUV striking a pedestrian and the death was ruled a homicide.

On Thursday, 34-year-old Jeromy Ellis was fatally shot in the head near East 81st Street and South Cottage Grove Avenue about 2:05 a.m., authorities said. Ellis, of the 7600 block of South Drexel Avenue, was dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Wednesday, Miata Phelan fatally stabbed her boyfriend, Larry Martin, about 6:40 p.m. inside his home in the 6800 block of South Talman Avenue in the Chicago Lawn community, authorities said.

Martin's family said his 8-year-old son tried to save his father by applying pressure to the stab wound with a towel. Martin, 28, died about an hour later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Prosecutors said Phelan, who is seven months pregnant, became enraged when she found out Martin bought gifts for his cousin and brother during a trip to the mall.

About 4:30 p.m. Monday, 14-year-old Endia Martin was fatally shot by another 14-year-old girl during a fight over a boy in the 900 block of West Garfield Boulevard, authorities said.

Endia, of the 5300 block of South Wallace Street, died at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital 40 minutes later, according to the medical examiner's office.

The shooter and her uncle, Donnell Flora, of the 8300 block of South Buffalo, were each charged with first-degree murder, authorities said. Numerous other people were charged for their role in the fight and shooting.

The killings started when Crystal Caffey, 27, allegedly fatally stabbed Marvin Turner, 29, about 2:30 a.m. last Monday in their home in the 4000 block of West Maypole Avenue, authorities said.

Prosecutors claim Caffey and Turner were a couple, and she stabbed him during a fight over missing money after a card game at their West Garfield Park home.

Additionally, 45-year-old John J. Miles died last Tuesday from injuries suffered when he was shot multiple times about 11:30 a.m. April 19 outside his home in the 1700 block of West Rosehill Drive, authorities said.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 116 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including five people killed by police.

Additionally, the state’s attorney’s office filed first-degree murder charges against a speeding motorist who killed an off-duty police officer while trying to flee police even though the autopsy ruled the death an accident.

Chicago Police, which counts murders different, have ruled at least eight of the homicides as involuntary manslaughter, justified self-defense or accidents.

Autopsy: Antonio Mendez intentionally run over by SUV in McKinley Park community

Michael Lansu — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:33:22 -0500

An SUV intentionally ran over Antonio Mendez Saturday morning in the McKinley Park neighborhood.

Mendez, 24, of the 2200 block of West 35th Place, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County less than a half hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Authorities said Mendez and others were in a Chevrolet Cavalier parked in the 1800 block of West 33rd Place when a white SUV approached about 6:45 a.m. Saturday and shouting match ensued, authorities said.

Mendez and two other males in the Cavalier got out and approached the white SUV, authorities said. The driver responded by running over Mendez then driving away, authorities said.

An autopsy determined Mendez died from multiple injuries from an SUV striking a pedestrian and the death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner's office.

The two other males were not injured, nor was a female inside the Cavalier, police said.

Police did not know what the fight was about, but said Mendez was a documented gang member and the others in the Cavalier were not fully cooperating with investigators.

Nobody has been charged with the murder.

The police Major Accident Investigation Unit and Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire