Javier Gonzalez | Homicide Watch Chicago

Valentin Garcia held without bond for allegedly killing Javier Gonzalez in Little Village shooting

Michael Lansu — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 15:59:23 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

A Southwest Side teenager has been charged for allegedly gunning down a rival gang member on a Little Village street last November.

Valentin Garcia, 17, was charged with one count of first-degree murder in the death of Javier Gonzalez, authorities said. Judge Laura Sullivan ordered him held without bond on Monday.

Garcia allegedly exited a car in the 3000 block of South Karlov Avenue and shot Gonzalez, 17, in the back of the head and right shoulder at 5:53 p.m. Nov. 14, 2013, said Assistant State's Attorney Naheda Zayyad.

Gonzalez, of the 3100 block of South Komensky Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital the next day, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

After the shooting, Garcia ran back to the car, which had three other males inside, Zayyad said.

Nearby police officers saw Garcia run back to the car, which then sped away, Zayyad said. Police stopped the car a short distance away and one person inside looked back at the officers, who recognized him from their routine patrol.

The motorist then drove away before the officers could approach and a chase ensued, Zayyad said.The pursuit was called off near the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) at Pulaski Road.

Witnesses allegedly saw Garcia throw a gun out the window of the car, Zayyad said.

Police recorded the license plate number and issued an investigative alert, Zayyad said. The car was found burning later that night.

In December 2013, investigators spoke with the passenger who looked at the officers, Zayyad said. That passenger said Garcia fatally shot Gonzalez in a "gang revenge shooting."

Garcia, of the 2700 block of South St. Louis Avenue, was arrested Feb. 22 and charged with one count of first-degree murder, authorities said.

He appeared before Judge Laura Sullivan Monday dressed in a black and gray Chicago Bulls jacket and blue jeans and was given a next court date of March 14.

Garcia lives with his mother, has a baby on the way and is working towards earning his G.E.D., his public defender said.

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.

Javier Gonzalez dies after Little Village shooting

Michael Lansu — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 12:04:43 -0600

Javier Gonzalez died Friday afternoon, a day after he was shot multiple times in the Little Village neighborhood.

Gonzalez, 17, was shot in the head and arm in the the 3000 block of South Karlov Avenue about 7:50 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Gonzalez, of the 3100 block of South Komensky Avenue, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died about 1:30 p.m. Friday, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Nobody has been charged in the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire