Sam Aguilar | Homicide Watch Chicago

WEEK IN REVIEW: Two teens among five killed throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 08:58:26 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Five people were shot throughout Chicago last week, including two teenage boys.

The most recent murder happened about 6 p.m. Friday when 13-year-old Samuel Walker was shot in the 700 block of South California Avenue, authorities said. Six other people were wounded in the shooting, according to police.

Sandra Williams, Samuel’s aunt, said her nephew had just finished summer school and was on his way to buy chips from a convenience store when he was shot.

Samuel was one of 26 people shot over the weekend. He was the only one who died.

On Thursday, 39-year-old Anthony Edwards was shot when a gunman opened fire on a gas station in the 11600 block of South Michigan Avenue about 3:15 a.m., authorities said.

Edwards, of the 12000 block of South Normal Avenue, was shot several times and died at the scene, authorities said.

On Wednesday, 16-year-old Darren Foggey was shot when a bullet went through a window in the 6700 block of South Artesian Avenue and struck him while in a bedroom about 9:25 p.m., authorities said.

Foggey, of the 6900 block of South Artesian Avenue, was shot in the neck and died at the scene, authorities said.

On Tuesday, 33-year-old Sam Aguilar was shot on a sidewalk in the 6300 block of South Francisco Avenue about 2 a.m. Aguilar, of the 1500 block of West Walton Street, died later that day at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Authorities said 18-year-old Christian Alvarez, of the 5800 block of South Kedzie Avenue, and 31-year-old Antonio Castaneda, 6000 block of South Kedzie Avenue, were each inside a passing SUV from which the gunfire erupted. They were both charged with first-degree murder.

The first murder of the week happened when a gunman approached 34-year-old Demond Parnell outside his home in the 5400 block of North Kenmore Avenue about 10 p.m. Monday, authorities said. The gunman started a conversation then shot him in the chest, police said.

Additionally, Cook County Jail inmate Tony Purnell Wednesday from injuries suffered in a June 23 fight at the jail in the 2600 block of South Califorina Avenue, authorities said. The death was ruled a homicide.

Purnell had been in the jail since January on a disorderly conduct charge, which was dropped in June, according to the sheriff’s office. He was also charged with civil contempt in February.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 230 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including eight people killed by police.

Additionally, the state’s attorney’s office filed first-degree murder charges against a speeding motorist who killed an off-duty police officer while trying to flee police even though the autopsy ruled the death an accident.

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

Christian Alvarez, Antonio Castaneda charged in Chicago Lawn murder of Sam Aguilar

Michael Lansu — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 17:09:59 -0500

Christian Alvarez / Photo from Chicago Police

Two men have been charged after police officers witnessed the fatal drive-by shooting of Sam Aguilar early Tuesday in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood.

Christian Alvarez, 18, and Antonio Castaneda, 31, were each charged with one count of first-degree murder, police said. Castaneda was also charged charged with aggravated battery to a peace officer and attempting to disarm a peace officer, police said.

Judge Laura Sullivan ordered Alvarez, of the 5800 block of South Kedzie, held without bond Thursday. Castaneda, of the 6000 block of South Kedzie, was ordered held on a $1 million bond.

Officers saw a gold Nissan Maxima traveling north on Francisco Avenue across 63rd Street about 2 a.m. Tuesday when the rear passenger stuck his arm out the window and fired five shots at Aguilar, prosecutors said.

The Nissan then turned into an alley, and a sergeant followed the vehicle until it stopped in the 6000 block of South Central Park Avenue, prosecutors said.

Castaneda attempted to run away, but the sergeant chased him down the alley, prosecutors said. Castaneda reached for his gun, but the sergeant took him to the ground and struck him with the gun, prosecutors said.

Alvarez, who also jumped out of the vehicle, was detained around the corner by other officers, prosecutors said.

Antonio Castaneda / Photo from Chicago Police

Aguilar, 33, of the 1500 block of West Walton Street, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn later that morning, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Prosecutors said another person witnessed the shooting and identified Castaneda and Alvarez in a line-up. A third person who was in the vehicle has not been charged.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Sam Aguilar shot dead in Chicago Lawn community

Michael Lansu — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 22:16:52 -0500

Sam Aguilar was fatally shot Tuesday in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood.

Aguilar, 33, was on a sidewalk in the 6300 block of South Francisco Avenue when an SUV drove by and someone inside opened fire about 2 a.m., authorities said.

Aguilar, of the 1500 block of West Walton Street, was shot in the abdomen and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 10:16 a.m., authorities said.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire