WEEK IN REVIEW: 10 men killed in citywide shootings

Michael Lansu — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 08:59:39 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Ten men were shot to death throughout the city last week.

The most recent murder happened when 18-year-old Leroy Griffin was fatally shot in the 7900 block of South Lafayette Avenue about 7 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Several people got out of an SUV and opened fire on Griffin -- striking him in the head, authorities said. Detectives are investigating if the shooting was gang related, police said.

Griffin, of the 7500 block of South Langley Avenue, died about 20 minutes later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

In the Belmont Crain neighborhood, Luciano Torres was in an SUV in the 4800 block of West Deming Place when a gunman in another SUV shot him in the head about 4:30 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Torres, 28, of the 2300 block of North Newland Avenue, died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center about 12 hours later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Friday, Jeffrey Anderson was shot to death outside his Northwest Side home in the 2800 block of North Talman Street, authorities said.

Anderson, 28, was standing outside his home when two males approached on foot and shot him in the shoulder about 9:50 p.m., authorities said. Anderson went inside his home, collapsed and was dead at the scene.

On Thursday, Barnett Adams was shot to death during an argument in the 5600 block of West Chicago Avenue.

Adams, 33, was arguing with another man in the street when the man pulled out a gun and shot Adams in the shoulder and leg about 5:10 p.m., authorities said.

Adams, of the 600 block of North Waller Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital about an hour later, according to the medical examiner's office.

In the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood, 19-year-old Andre Hunter was shot multiple times and found on a sidewalk in the 7700 block of South Stewart Avenue about 2:40 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Hunter, of the 7900 block of South Princeton Avenue, died about an hour later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the medical examiner’s office.

In the South Shore community, 74-year-old Willie Cooper was found shot multiple times in a vehicle in the 7000 block of South East End Avenue about 4:45 a.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Cooper, of the of 6800 block of South Crandon Avenue, was dead on the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

About an hour later, Chicago blues musician Eric "Guitar" Davis was shot dead inside a vehicle three blocks north in the 6700 block of South East End Avenue, authorities said.

Davis, 41, of the 14200 block of South Eggleston Avenue in Riverdale, was pronounced dead at the scene, the medical examiner’s office said.

Chicago blues legend Linsey Alexander said Davis was hanging out at North Side blues bar Kingston Mines Wednesday night.

In the Gage Park neighborhood, 27-year-old Salvador Diaz had just exited a vehicle in the 5300 block of South Talman Avenue when a gunman walked up and shot him about 2:50 a.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Diaz tried to run away, but eventually collapsed in a nearby alley, authorities said. Emergency crews found Diaz, of the 500 block of South Spaulding Avenue, in an alley and later he died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, authorities said.

The five homicides on Thursday were the most in a single day since Oct. 9.

On Tuesday, 16-year-old Christopher Ramirez was shot in the 2600 block of South Trumbull Avenue about 10:30 p.m., authorities said.

Ramirez was walking when a male exited the passenger side of a van and shot in the head, authorities said.

Ramirez, of the 2800 block of South Trumbull Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital at 8:39 p.m. Wednesday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Monday, 17-year-old Ladarius Brisco was found shot in the head in the 8200 block of South Champlain Avenue about 1 p.m., authorities said.

Brisco, of the 8200 block of South Vernon Avenue, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County Wednesday afternoon, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Christopher Ramirez, 16, dies after Little Village shooting

Michael Lansu — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 09:05:02 -0600

A 16-year-old boy shot in the head Tuesday night near his Little Village home has died.

Christopher Ramirez was shot about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 2600 block of South Trumbull Avenue, authorities said. The shooting occurred less than a block away from Little Village Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Ramirez was walking when a male exited the passenger side of a van and fired several shots at him, authorities said. He was shot in the head and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital.

Ramirez, of the 2800 block of South Trumbull Avenue, died at the hospital at 8:39 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

After the shooting, the gunman got back into the van and fled the scene, police said. Nobody is in custody.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Christopher Ramirez | Homicide Watch Chicago

WEEK IN REVIEW: 10 men killed in citywide shootings

Christopher Ramirez, 16, dies after Little Village shooting