A tragic shooting in Chicago's Heart of Chicago neighborhood has left a 35-year-old man dead and his infant son with a graze wound. The incident occurred on the morning of Wednesday. According to ABC7 Chicago, the man was driving his red Jeep Compass when an unknown assailant in a blue vehicle opened fire around 10:45 a.m. in the 2400 block of South Oakley Avenue.
The Chicago Sun-Times identified the victim as Leonardo Martinez, who was shot multiple times in the head and body and subsequently crashed into two parked cars. Witnesses recounted hearing what sounded like a bat hitting a window followed by the screeching of a car; moments before the police found Martinez's vehicle. His six-month-old son, who was in the backseat, suffered a graze wound to his right cheek, police said.
The baby was taken to Stroger Hospital and was reported to be in good condition, despite the harrowing experience that included a fired bullet falling from his onesie while he was being treated in an ambulance. A blood-stained cell phone was also found on the front seat, adding to the chaotic scene left behind, as detailed by the Chicago Sun-Times. The suspect vehicle was last seen driving south on Oakley Avenue, and as of yet, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting.
In the wake of the violence, the community has rallied around the victim's family, creating a GoFundMe campaign to provide financial support. The fundraiser description, penned by the victim's sister-in-law Daisy Alvarez noted, "There was nothing you couldn't count on him for," she said, capturing the essence of Martinez as a "family man to the fullest," as stated by the Chicago Sun-Times. Alison Martinez is survived by his fiancé, two sons, a daughter, and two stepchildren.
