WEEK IN REVIEW: Six shot dead throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 10:18:55 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Six men were shot to death throughout Chicago last week.

Two of the slayings happened over the weekend, when at least 15 other people were shot and wounded.

The most recent killing happened when a 25-year-old man sitting in a car in the 12200 block of South Racine Avenue was shot in the head about 1:55 a.m. Sunday, police said.

After the shooting, another man in the car drove to the nearby Calumet Police Department, where an ambulance was called. The man died less than an hour later at MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, according to the Cook County medical center, which has not yet released his name.

On Saturday, 36-year-old Michael Ricks was shot when gunfire erupted inside Riff Music Lounge in the 2200 block of South Michigan Avenue in the South Loop about 1:20 a.m., authorities said.

Ricks, of the 2300 block of South State Street, was shot in the abdomen area and died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, authorities said.

Prior to being shot, police said he had gotten into an argument with a man who was escorted out of the club, but later returned and opened fire.

“And as a result of that, here we are having to plan for a funeral now of Michael Ricks,” said Carlos Estes, a family friend and spokesman.

On Friday, 24-year-old Uchenna Agina — the manager for Chicago rapper Lil Durk — was sitting in a car in the 8400 block of South Stony Island Avenue in the Avalon Park neighborhood when a gunman walked up and opened fire about 1:50 a.m. Friday, authorities said.

Agina, 24, of the 7900 block of South Karlov Avenue, died less than an hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Just hours earlier, Agina was part of a group that met with Chicago Bulls star Joakim Noah about participating in Noah's "Rock the Drop" anti-violence campaign.

On Thursday, 21-year-old Antoine Coney was shot on the porch in the 5200 block of West Quincy Street in the Austin neighborhood about 5:30 p.m., authorities said.

Quincy, who lived on the block, was shot in the head and died at the scene, authorities said.

On Wednesday, 25-year-old Edgar Muneton was shot in the 5200 block of West Fullerton Avenue in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood about 5:40 p.m., authorities said.

Prior to the shooting, Muneton had gotten into a fight at a nearby business, authorities said. He tried to run away through a back door, but a gunman followed him and opened fire. Emergency crews found him shot multiple times in an alley, police said.

Muneton, of the 2700 block of North Neva Avenue, died less than an hour later at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The killings started when 27-year-old U.S. Postal Service employee Anthony Hayes was found shot to death inside a vehicle in the 2800 block of West Warren Boulevard in the East Garfield Park neighborhood about 6:35 a.m. Tuesday, authorities said.

“The Postal Service is deeply saddened by the tragic killing of our co-worker Anthony Hayes,” according to a statement from the postal service. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Anthony’s family, co-workers and friends.”

Nobody has been charged for any of the killings.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 81 Chicago deaths in 2015 a homicide.

Michael Ricks fatally shot in Riff Music Lounge after argument in South Loop nightclub

Michael Lansu — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 12:18:58 -0500

Scene where Michael Ricks was fatally shot / Photo by Sam Charles

BY Lauren FitzPatrick
Chicago Sun-Times

Michael Ricks was killed and another man was wounded when gunfire erupted inside Riff Music Lounge early Saturday in the South Loop.

Ricks was inside the nightclub in the 2200 block of South Michigan Avenue when he got into an argument about a woman about 1:20 a.m., authorities said.

The man Ricks was arguing with was escorted out of the club, but he returned with a gun a short time later and opened fire, authorities said.

Ricks, 36, of the 2300 block of South State Street, was shot in the abdomen area and died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, authorities said.

“And as a result of that, here we are having to plan for a funeral now of Michael Ricks,” said Carlos Estes, a family friend and spokesman.

He had grown up in the Dearborn Homes on South State Street, where his mother, Doris Ricks, was a longtime Local Advisory Council president, said Carlos Estes, a family friend and spokesman.

“Everybody knows Ms. Ricks,” he said.

Her son, who was attending a birthday party he was invited to at Riff, leaves behind several young children, Estes said.

Relatives and friends blocked the door of Doris Ricks’ apartment Saturday afternoon. Her brother — for whom Michael Ricks was named — said she was not well enough to speak to reporters.

“She’s already been very sick but she’s very, very ill behind this,” Estes said.

The shots fired inside the club also injured a 39-year-old man not involved in the argument, police said. He took himself to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County for treatment.

According to the nightclub's Facebook page, "Riff is a multifaceted live music venue and lounge bringing swag and luxury back to the Prairie District of Chicago's South Loop. Dress to impress."

"We heard a 'pop' and we thought it was a bottle of champagne," a man told the Chicago Tribune. "Then we saw a guy fall to the floor."

The shooting prompted a larger than normal police response as officers from the neighboring River North District — which covers River North and Lincoln Park — provided assistance, police said.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Contributing: Sam Charles and Ashlee Rezin

Michael Ricks | Homicide Watch Chicago

WEEK IN REVIEW: Six shot dead throughout Chicago

Michael Ricks fatally shot in Riff Music Lounge after argument in South Loop nightclub