Another Deadly Weekend in Chicago: 2 Killed, 21 Wounded in Weekend Shootings

MyFoxChicago: Two people were killed and at least 21 others, including a 13-year-old boy, have been wounded in shootings across Chicago since Friday afternoon.

A West Side man has been charged for the weekend’s most recent fatal shooting, in which a 25-year-old southwest suburban man was gunned down during a robbery early Saturday in the North Side Lake View neighborhood. Kristopher K. Pitts, 22, faces one count each of first-degree murder and robbery armed with a firearm, according to a statement from Chicago Police.

Pitts, of the 1100 block of North Central Park, was arrested after being identified as the man who shot Kevin O. O’Malley twice in the chest during a violent robbery about 2 a.m. in the 900 block of West Oakdale, authorities said. O’Malley, of the the 10600 block of Palos West Drive in Palos Park, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An officer at the scene said the shooting might have stemmed from an armed robbery for a cell phone.

Pitts fled the scene of the shooting but was arrested a short time later, police said. He was scheduled to appear in bond court Sunday.

Two hours earlier, a man was shot to death in Little Village.

About midnight, 24-year-old Jose Velasquez was walking with his spouse in the 2100 block of South Fairfield when two or three people walked up to them from a gangway, yelling and opening fire, authorities said. Velasquez, of the 2800 block of West 21st Street, was shot in the back and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:41 a.m., authorities said.

A 13-year-old boy was critically injured Saturday afternoon in a Homan Square neighborhood shooting on the West Side. The boy was in the passenger seat of a van in the 3200 block of West Lexington when someone fired shots from a red SUV about 2:45 p.m., police said. The SUV sped away eastbound on Lexington. Family members drove the boy to Stroger Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition, police said.

The most recent non-fatal shooting happened early Sunday in the West Garfield Park neighborhood. An 18-year-old man was heading westbound in the 3900 block of West Congress at 5:25 a.m. when a light-colored car pulled up and someone inside fired shots, police said. He was dropped off at Mount Sinai Hospital with gunshot wounds to his right shoulder and left forearm, police said. He was listed in critical condition Sunday morning.

At least 19 others have been shot in separate attacks across Chicago since 4 p.m. Friday.

Additionally, a 43-year-old man was fatally stabbed in a Pilsen neighborhood bar early Saturday, police said. About 12:40 a.m., Rodolfo Avina was stabbed in the neck while he was in a bar in the 900 block of West 18th Street. Avina, who lived in the 700 block of North Franklin, was dead at the scene, authorities said. Ulises Almaraz, 29, of Berwyn, faces one count of first-degree murder in connection with the death, Chicago Police announced early Sunday. He is scheduled to appear in court Sunday.