The family of Salvador Herrera, a 42-year-old bartender killed while intervening in a car theft, is demanding social change in a city fraught with crime. As detailed by the Chicago Tribune, Herrera's story highlights a loving person making the ultimate sacrifice.
Reportedly, on the night of October 15, Herrera was returning from a shift at the Butterfield Country Club in Oak Brook when he encountered a group attempting to steal a car in the 700 block of South Loomis Street in the Little Italy neighborhood. Despite his efforts to prevent the theft, the criminals shot him in the back. An officer found him in a vehicle an hour later, resulting in his transportation to Stroger Hospital where he later died. With the investigation ongoing and no arrests made, his family and friends seek answers and rally for change in memory of Salvador.
Regarded as a dedicated brother, friend, and community member, Salvador is remembered for his active support and uplifting of others. As the WGN News reports, he began working at Butterfield Country Club at age 14, following his father's death. Over the course of 28 years at the club, his sisters say he immersed himself in his work, aiding his family and forging bonds with his coworkers, creating a second family.
His legacy extends beyond his work at the club. Friends note his unwavering dedication to his family, placing his mother's and sisters' well-being above all else.
Faced with such a loss, the Herrera family is using their grief to drive for social change. Vigils honoring Salvador's memory have been organized, seeing friends, family, and witnesses alike, united by their hope for justice and societal reform. A campaign—#justiceforsalv—was launched by Salvador's sisters, Marcelina and Remedios Herrera. Their goal: to emphasize that Salvador was more than a statistic—he was a man of significance.
