Carlos Herrera | Homicide Watch Chicago

WEEK IN REVIEW: 14 killed in Chicago violence

Michael Lansu — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 08:19:40 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago

At least 14 people were killed throughout Chicago last week.

Seven of the killings happened over the weekend, when at least 24 other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killings happened minutes apart on the West Side.

A 53-year-old man was fatally shot in the 4900 block of West Lake Street in the Austin community about 7:10 p.m. Sunday, police said. The Cook County medical examiner's office has not yet released his name.

Less than five minutes later, a 27-year-old man was shot while standing on a sidewalk in the 100 block of North Cicero Avenue in Austin, police said. The medical examiner's office has not yet released his name.

In the Chatham neighborhood, a 25-year-old man was standing in the 0 – 50 block of East 88th Street when a white van pulled up and a gunman inside opened fire about 12:15 p.m., police said.

The man, who has not yet been identified, was shot three times and died less than an hour later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, authorities said.

On Saturday, 25-year-old Kevin O'Malley was shot in the chest during a cellphone robbery in the 900 block of West Oakdale Avenue in Lake View about 2 a.m., authorities said.

Kristopher Pitts, 22, of the 1100 block of North Central Park Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery with a firearm for the shooting, police said. He was ordered held without bond Sunday.

In the South Shore community, 19-year-old Demetrius P. Hill Jr. was shot in the head in the hallway of a building in the 6800 block of South Ridgeland Avenue about 1:25 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Hill, of the 7100 block of South Constance Avenue, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he later died, according to the medical examiner’s office.

In Pilsen, 43-year-old Rudy Avina was sitting at Simone’s Bar, a popular spot in the 900 block of West 18th Street, when Ulises Almaraz walked up behind him and slit his throat about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, authorities said. Avina, who lived blocks way, was dead at the scene.

Almaraz, of west suburban Berwyn, was ordered held without bond Sunday.

In Little Village, 24-year-old Jose Velasquez was shot in the back in the 2100 block of South Fairfield Avenue about 12:05 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Velasquez, of the 2800 block of West 21st Street, died at Mount Sinai Hospital at 1:41 a.m., according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Friday, 19-year-old Shaquon Thomas was in the 4800 block of North Kenmore Avenue when gunfire erupted about 1:35 a.m., authorities said.

Thomas, who rapped under the name Young Pappy, died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center less than an hour later, authorities said.

On Thursday, 52-year-old John L. Rainey got into a fight with another man about 11 p.m. in the 300 block of North Menard Avenue in Austin and collapsed afterwards, authorities said.

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

An autopsy determined Rainey died a “sudden death following scuffle” caused by hypertensive and heart disease. Diabetes was also listed as a contributing factor, according to the medical examiner’s office, which ruled the death a homicide.

In West Elsdon, emergency crews found 22-year-old Carlos Herrera and 49-year-old Maria Herrera inside their burning home in the 3600 block of West 55th Place about 2:50 p.m., authorities said.

Prosecutors said 20-year-old Jose Guzman stabbed his aunt and cousin “because he wanted to steal their gold.” Guzman, who was found hiding in a closet at his home in the 3800 block of West 55th Place, was ordered held without bond.

On Monday, 17-year-old Ronnie Shaw Jr. was walking in the 4900 block of West Erie Street in Austin when a gunman confronted him and shot him as he tried to run away about 7:50 p.m., authorities said.

Shaw, of the 4900 block of West Ferdinand Street, died at Mount Sinai Hospital less than an hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

In the Bronzeville neighborhood, 19-year-old Robert Richmond was in a vehicle in the 0-100 block of East 36th Place when a gunman in a passing vehicle opened fire about 5:25 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Richmond, of the 6100 block of South King Drive, was shot in the back and a family member took him to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he was declared dead at about two hours later, authorities said.

The shooting happened less than a block from Perspectives/IIT Math and Science Academy at 3663 S. Wabash Ave. and about a block south of Chicago Police Headquarters at 3500 S. Michigan Ave.

The killing started when 29-year-old Felix Diaz was shot while sitting in a vehicle in the 4100 block of North Hamlin Avenue in the Irving Park community about 2:30 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Diaz, of the 3300 block of West Belle Plaine Avenue, died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center about two hours later, authorities said.

Additionally, 33-year-old Kristopher Claybon died Saturday after being shot while sitting in a vehicle parked outside his home in the 5700 block of South Hermitage Avenue about 4:45 p.m. Feb. 16, authorities said. Claybon's death was ruled a homicide.

In 2015, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 170 Chicago deaths a homicide, including one person fatally shot by police.

Prosecutors: Killer left bloody footprints then hid in his mom's closet

Michael Lansu — Sun, 31 May 2015 19:16:25 -0500

Jose Guzman / Photo from Chicago Police

BY SAM CHALRES
Chicago Sun-Times

After leaving his bloody footprints all over a Southwest Side murder scene where he’d butchered his aunt and cousin, a 20-year-old man was found two blocks away at his mother’s home, hiding in the closet, prosecutors said.

Then Jose Guzman allegedly confessed that he’d killed his relatives “because he wanted to steal their gold.”

Charged with two counts each of first-degree murder, home invasion causing great bodily harm, aggravated arson and one count of armed robbery with a dangerous weapon, Guzman was denied bail Sunday by Judge Laura Sullivan.

He fatally stabbed his 49-year-old aunt, Maria Herrera, and his cousin Carlos Herrera on Thursday at their home in the 3600 block of West 55th Place, Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Cooper said.

Then he allegedly tried to torch the house.

Maria Herrera’s husband came home Thursday afternoon and saw smoke, Cooper said. He shouted for his wife, but got no response. But when he went into a bedroom, he found his son lying on the ground in a pool of blood, Cooper said. A butcher knife and bludgeon were found next to his body.

After yelling for neighbors to call police and paramedics, he went into the basement of the home and found his wife, also lying in a pool of blood with her legs tied together.

A bloody set of footprints led from where Carlos Herrera was found to another bedroom that appeared to have been ransacked, with dresser drawers pulled out and blood on the handles, Cooper said. A jewelry box was also open on top of the bed.

The footprints then led down to the basement, where Maria Herrera was found. A couch had been set on fire near her body and there was smoke damage in the basement, Cooper said.

Guzman lives with his parents less than two blocks west in the 3800 block of West 55th Place, authorities said. His mother came home Friday and found him in her closet with scratch marks to his ears neck and chest, Cooper said.

Guzman then admitted to his mother that “he is the one that killed them because he wanted to steal their gold,” Cooper said. He then asked his mother to help him flee to Michigan.

His mother instead called relatives, who in turn called the police. Bloody shoes matching the footprints found at the crime scene were found after police executed a search warrant at Guzman’s house, Cooper said.

According to his attorney, Guzman was diagnosed with depression two years ago.

Guzman is scheduled to appear in court again Monday.

Jose Guzman charged with murder in West Elsdon deaths of Carlos Herrera, Maria Herrera

Michael Lansu — Sun, 31 May 2015 13:45:15 -0500

Jose Guzman / Photo from Chicago Police

Jose Guzman has been charged for his alleged role in a home invasion and arson that left two people dead last Thursday in the West Elsdon community.

Guzman, 20, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, home invasion causing great bodily harm, aggravated arson causing bodily harm and one count of robbery armed with a dangerous weapon, police said.

On Thursday, Emergency crews found 22-year-old Carlos Herrera and 49-year-old Maria Herrera inside their home in the 3600 block of West 55th Place about 2:50 p.m., authorities said.

The blaze was initially reported as an explosion, but investigators later learned there was only a fire, according to a source.

Police claim Guzman entered the home and set a couch on fire before he left.

An autopsy determined Carlos Herrera died of multiple stab wounds and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Autopsy results for Maria Herrera were inconclusive pending further investigation, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Guzman, of the 3800 block of West 55th Place, was taken into custody after detectives determined he was responsible for the deaths, police said.

He is scheduled to appear in court Sunday for a bond hearing.

Carlos Herrera found stabbed to death in burning West Elsdon home

Michael Lansu — Fri, 29 May 2015 17:56:07 -0500

Carlos Herrera was found stabbed to death inside his burning West Elsdon home Thursday afternoon.

Emergency crews found 22-year-old Carlos Herrera and 49-year-old Maria Herrera inside their home in the 3600 block of West 55th Place about 2:50 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

The blaze was initially reported as an explosion, but investigators later learned there was only a fire, according to a source.

Detectives believe the deaths may have stemmed from a home invasion, and that the fire was intentionally set, according to police. Fire officials said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

An autopsy determined Carlos Herrera died of multiple stab wounds and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Autopsy results for Maria Herrera were inconclusive pending further investigation, according to the medical examiner's office.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire