Comment of the Day: "We are trying to accept the reality of knowing we won't share laughs with him again"

Michael Lansu — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 16:00:20 -0600

Luis Zuniga, 44, was fatally shot Sunday afternoon in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood. Reader "Sonia" posted this about him:

Thank you all for the encouragement through these horrible moments where we are trying to accept the reality of knowing we won't share laughs with him again.... He was an awesome friend, dad, brother and overall person; a man of God.

WEEK IN REVIEW: 12 murdered throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 09:00:50 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Twelve people were murdered throughout Chicago last week.

Six of the slayings happened over the weekend, when at least 11 other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood when 44-year-old Luis Zuniga was shot in the 2800 block of North Lotus Avenue about 2:20 p.m., authorities said.

Family members said he had pulled up to his driveway after returning home from church and was getting out of his white minivan when someone in a parked vehicle fired shots. Police said the shooter then drove off.

In the River North neighborhood, 29-year-old Willis Jefferson was stabbed in the back multiple times and police found him in the 800 block of North Orleans Street about 2:20 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Jefferson, of the 7200 block of South Vincennes Avenue, later died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Saturday, 21-year-old Rogelio Margil was with a group in the 1600 block of North Tripp Avenue in the Humboldt Park community when an argument started and an alleged gang member shot Margil in the head about 7:30 p.m., authorities said.

Margil, of the 1400 block of North Kildare Avenue, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died at 3:22 p.m. Sunday, according to the medical examiner's office.

In the Chatham neighborhood, police found 18-year-old Johnathan Cartwright shot in the 800 block of East 87th Place about 5:05 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Cartwright, whose home address was not immediately available, was dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner's office.

On Friday, 15-year-old Deon Gilbert was walking in the 10400 block of South Bensley Avenue in the South Deering community when a dark minivan pulled up and somebody inside opened fire about 10:45 p.m., authorities said.

Gilbert, of the 8100 block of South Evans Avenue, was shot in the abdomen area and later died at University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, authorities said.

In the West Ridge neighborhood, 3-year-old Donnell Coakley Jr. was found unresponsive in his bed in the 6500 block of North Seeley Avenue about 8:40 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Donnell was taken to Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he died about an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Donnell's parents, Donnell Coakley Sr., 24, and Tylesha G. Griffin, 22, were each charged with first-degree murder in the boy's death. Dominique Lott, a 25-year-old cousin who lived in the home, was also charged in the Donnell's death for allegedly smoking marijuana near the child's corpse, prosecutors said.

In the South Shore neighborhood, police found 22-year-old Lydell Lynch shot multiple times in a doorway of a second-floor apartment in the 7300 block of South Blackstone Avenue about 1 a.m. Friday, authorities said.

Lynch, who lived in the building, died at Jackson Park Hospital about an hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Thursday, 39-year-old Joseph Lewis was outside in the 7900 block of South Essex Avenue when somebody opened fire about 2:40 a.m., authorities said.

Lewis, of the 7600 block of South Essex Avenue, was struck by several bullets and friends drove him to South Shore Hospital, where he died less than an hour later, authorities said.

On Wednesday, 25-year-old Gregory D. McKinney was shot in the back and chest in the 100 block of South Pulaski Road in the West Garfield Park community about 5 p.m., authorities said.

McKinney, of the 4000 block of West Wilcox Street, died about 45 minutes later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Tuesday, police found 36-year-old Darrell Tolbert shot in the head and chest in the 600 block of North Avers Avenue in the East Garfield Park neighborhood at 7:17 p.m., authorities said.

Tolbert, of the 800 block of West 78th Street, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Monday, 33-year-old Doug A. Chambliss was in the 700 block of South Karlov Avenue in the West Garfield Park neighborhood when two males walked up and opened fire at 9:07 a.m., authorities said.

Chambliss, who lived on the block, was shot in the back and leg and died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, authorities said.

The killing started when 48-year-old Veronica Wilson fatally stabbed her boyfriend, Andrew Brown, during an argument in the 3000 block of East Cheltenham Place about 12:20 a.m. Monday, prosecutors said.

The exchange started in their home about two blocks away when Brown accused Wilson of cheating, said Assistant State’s Attorney Lashunda Cooperwood.

Brown is being held on $800,000 bond.

Additionally, 61-year-old James Watson died Wednesday after he was shot in a lounge in the 700 block of East 83rd Street in the Chatham neighborhood after an argument erupted about 1:50 a.m. Aug. 2, authorities said.

An autopsy confirmed Watson, of the 7300 block of South Union Avenue, died from being shot multiple times and the death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner's office.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 381 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including 14 people killed by police.

Chicago Police, which counts murders different by following federal guidelines, have ruled some of those homicides as involuntary manslaughter, justified self-defense or accidents.

Family: Luis Zuniga, 44, fatally shot in Belmont Cragin after church

Michael Lansu — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 20:17:03 -0600

Scene where Luis Zuniga was shot / Photo by Ashlee Rezin

BY ASHLEE REZIN
Sun-Times Media

A man coming back from church was shot and killed outside his home Sunday afternoon in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood on the Northwest Side, Chicago Police and family members said.

Police said the 44-year-old man was shot about 2:20 p.m. in the 2800 block of North Lotus Avenue.

Family members — who identified the man as Luis Zuniga — said he had pulled up to his driveway after returning home from church and was getting out of his white minivan when someone in a parked vehicle fired shots. Police said the shooter then drove off.

Zuniga was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene, according to police and family members. The Cook County medical examiner’s office could not confirm the fatality Sunday afternoon.

Eric Salvado, 21, who said he is Zuniga’s brother-in-law, said Zuniga liked fixing cars and was a “really nice guy.”

“I don’t know why this happened,” Salvado said. “This is the first time someone close to me died so I don’t know what to think.”

Zuniga’s two daughters and stepson were among at least a dozen family members at the scene Sunday afternoon.

“I don’t know why anyone would do this,” Salvado said.

Victor Nevarez, 50, who has lived a block away from the shooting location for more than four years, said the neighborhood is normally quiet.

“This is a safe neighborhood,” he said, adding that he goes jogging down Lotus almost every day. “I’m surprised to see this going on.”

Luis Zuniga | Homicide Watch Chicago

Comment of the Day: "We are trying to accept the reality of knowing we won't share laughs with him again"

WEEK IN REVIEW: 12 murdered throughout Chicago

Family: Luis Zuniga, 44, fatally shot in Belmont Cragin after church