WEEK IN REVIEW: Two teen boys, homeless man, and woman shot in broad daylight among 11 killed

Jeff Mayes — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 09:30:41 -0500

By JEFF MAYES
Homicide Watch Chicago

Sun-Times file photo by Ashlee Rezin

At least 11 people were killed in Chicago during the week of August 21-27, including two teenage boys; a homeless man who was beaten to death, a crime for which two men are in custody; and a woman who was shot 12 times in broad daylight in Logan Square.

A 16-year-old boy was shot to death Saturday in the East Garfield Park neighborhood whle walking home from visiting his infant son.

Theotis Luckett was shot in the back about 3:45 a.m. in the 3600 block of West Ohio, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead an hour-and-a-half later.

He lived in the Pulaski Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side, authorities said. Family members said he was returning home after visiting his newborn son when he became the third person shot in the neighborhood in about five hours.

The other teenage boy was killed by an off-duty Chicago Fire Department lieutenant, who claimed the teen tried to steal his car Monday morning in the West Side Austin neighborhood. Police are investigating the shooting as a case of self-defense.

About 9:30 a.m., the 45-year-old lieutenant left his vehicle running in the 1400 block of North Lockwood, when the boy got inside and tried to drive off, according to police and Fire Department officials. The lieutenant fired his weapon at the teen, who was trying to run him over with the vehicle, authorities said.

The boy, identified as 17-year-old Charles K. Macklin, who lived in the same neighborhood, was shot in the chest and was taken to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, where he was pronounced dead at 9:33 a.m., police and the medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy Tuesday showed he died of the chest wound, and his death was ruled a homicide.

The lieutenant has a concealed-carry permit and FOID card, authorities said. He was not injured, but was taken to a hospital for observation.

In perhaps the most shocking homicide, two men have been charged with beating a homeless man to death with a baseball bat and a brick Wednesday night in the Northwest Side Belmont Cragin neighborhood.

Joaquin Clara, 51, was found dead about 9 p.m. in the 5900 block of West Fullerton, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. An autopsy Friday found Clara suffered blunt-force injuries to his head, and his death was ruled a homicide.

Rogelio Arroyo, a 31-year-old from the Galewood neighborhood; and Thomas Ocasio, a 46-year-old from the West Elsdon neighborhood, were both charged with first-degree murder, police said. Prosecutors claim Ocasa beat Clara, while Arroyo served as the lookout. But no motive for the crime was given.

The 33-year-old woman died Wednesday morning after she was shot 12 times in the Logan Square neighborhood on the Northwest Side, police said.

About 10:30 a.m., Laquesha L. Holmes was near Spaulding and Cortland when a black Dodge Charger with tinted windows approached and a man got out and chased her down, then fired multiple shots, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Neighbors found her unresponsive and she was taken to Stroger Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 11:02 a.m., authorities said. She lived in the South Shore neighborhood. The shooter, described as a black man about 20 years old with a medium complexion and wearing a red T-shirt, got back into the Charger and took off, police said.

In other homicides last week:

A man was shot to death in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood Sunday night on the South Side. Arthur Sanchez, 51, was standing outside about 8:55 p.m. on a corner in the 2000 block of South Leavitt when two males in a Chevrolet shouted gang slogans, then fired shots, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Sanchez was struck in the chest and both arms, and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He lived in the same neighborhood as the shooting.
An 18-year-old man died after being shot Saturday night in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. Someone approached Adrian Lopez about 7:10 p.m. in the 3300 block of West Potomac and shot him in the head, according to police and the medical examiner's office. Lopez was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died at 2:06 p.m. Sunday. He lived in the West Ridge neighborhood on the North Side.
A 24-year-old man who was wounded Saturday evening in an Englewood neighborhood shooting on the South Side died Sunday morning. Brandon Cathey was unresponsive on the ground when officers arrived just after 11 p.m. in the 6200 block of South Laflin, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. He had been shot in the head. Cathey was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died at 9:12 a.m. Sunday.
A 35-year-old man was killed in a shooting early Sunday in the Woodlawn neighborhood on the South Side. Gerard Mayo was shot in the torso at 1:38 a.m. in the 6400 block of South Champlain, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Mayo, who lived on the Far South Side, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died at 5:25 a.m.
A south suburban man was fatally shot in the head at an Englewood gas station late Friday. At 11:20 p.m., a Chrysler 300 pulled up to Matthias Bowen, 35, at the station in the 5900 block of South Morgan, and at least two people got out with guns and opened fire, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died at 6:26 p.m. Saturday. He lived in south suburban South Holland.
A 31-year-old man was shot to death early Saturday near the Parkway Gardens public housing complex on the South Side. Officers responding to a call of shots fired found Derrick "Ricky" Nabors Jr. with multiple gunshot wounds about 2:15 a.m. in the 6200 block of South King Drive, according to police and the medical examiner's office. Nabors, of the South Side Washington Park neighborhood, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A man was shot to death Tuesday afternoon in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on the South Side. Shortly before 5 p.m., a man walked up to 41-year-old Calvin Robinson in the 5200 block of South Bishop and fired shots, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Robinson suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the body and was pronounced dead at the scene. He lived about two blocks from the shooting.

Two men charged with fatal beating of Joaquin Clara, father of 3 and grandfather of 9, in Belmont Cragin

Jeff Mayes — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 11:43:18 -0500

Two men are behind bars Monday, charged with the fatal beating of 51-year-old Joaquin Clara, a father and grandfather, last Wednesday night in the Northwest Side Belmont Cragin neighborhood.

Rogelio Arroyo (left) and Thomas Ocasio | Chicago Police

Clara was found dead about 9 p.m. behind an abandoned building in the 5900 block of West Fullerton, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

On Saturday, Rogelio Arroyo, a 31-year-old from the Galewood neighborhood; and Thomas Ocasio, a 46-year-old from the West Elsdon neighborhood, were both charged with first-degree murder in connection with Clara’s death, police said.

Prosecutors said Ocasio beat Clara with a baseball bat and a brick, while Arroyo served as a lookout.

Authorities said Clara was homeless. An autopsy Friday found he suffered blunt-force injuries to his head, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. His death was ruled a homicide.

Family members have started a GoFundMe page to help offset funeral expenses.

Joaquin Clara | family photo

His daughter, Nancy Clara, who started the page, called the father of three and grandfather of nine "a lovely soul."

"We will miss his beautiful personality. His unforgettable laugh. This is a huge pain in our hearts," she wrote. "My dad was taken from us in the most horrible way, and the least we can do now is give him a beautiful funeral."

Arroyo’s bond was set at $1 million at a court appearance Saturday, according to Cook County sheriff’s office records. Bond was denied for Ocasio. Both are scheduled to appear in court Monday.

--Chicago Sun-Times Wire and Homicide Watch Chicago

Joaquin Clara | Homicide Watch Chicago

WEEK IN REVIEW: Two teen boys, homeless man, and woman shot in broad daylight among 11 killed

Two men charged with fatal beating of Joaquin Clara, father of 3 and grandfather of 9, in Belmont Cragin