Gage Park

Crime

Off-duty killing of Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca announced as line-of-duty death on his 31st birthday

In a letter to department members on Tuesday, Police Supt. Larry Snelling described Huesca as “a kind spirit who cared deeply for his family, friends, and our city.”

By Tom Schuba

Image from a video Chicago Police released of a person of interest they are seeking to identify in the investigation of the murder of Officer Luis Huesca early Sunday in the 3100 block of West 56th Street in Gage Park.

Crime

Chicago police release photos, video of person of interest sought in probe of Officer Luis Huesca slaying

A community alert asks for help in identifying the male “subject,” noting that he “should be considered armed and dangerous.” Meanwhile, those who knew Huesca have been left reeling. Rocio Lasso said she leaned on Huesca after her own son, Andres Vásquez Lasso, was killed in the line of duty last year.

By Tom Schuba and Jessica Ma

Officer Luis Huesca wears a light blue police uniform as he poses for a portrait in front of an American flag.

Crime

Chicago police officer is shot to death as his car is taken in Gage Park

Officer Luis Huesca, 30, was going home from work about 3 a.m. in the 3100 block of West 56th Street when a ShotSpotter alert went off, police Supt. Larry Snelling said. No one has been arrested.

By Mohammad Samra, Tom Schuba, and 1 more

Crime

32 shot, 7 killed in deadliest weekend of 2024

Two people were killed and four wounded in separate mass attacks in Austin. The toll surpassed that of the weekend of March 15, when 23 people were shot and five killed.

By Sophie Sherry and Violet Miller

Crime

Man hurt in shooting, another killed in hit-and-run in Gage Park

After opening fire, a man in a black SUV fatally struck Edgar Santamaria, 27, who was standing in the street before the driver headed west on 57th Street.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

Man fatally shot in Gage Park

The man was shot in the left eye area in the 5700 block of South Christiana Avenue on the city’s Southwest Side.

By Sun-Times Wire

Immigration

Migrants sheltering at 5 city parks to be moved

Still, residents living near the Gage Park field house say moving migrants is going to make the issue “another neighborhood’s problem.”

By Mariah Rush

Immigration

Chicago slowly starts evicting migrants from shelters

Dozens of adults were expected to be evicted Sunday, amid an outbreak of measles, but just three were. They will be able to reapply for shelter at the city’s designated ‘landing zone.’

By Michael Loria

A Chicago Police Department SWAT team responds to the 9700 block of Avenue M on the Far Southeast Side on Friday, March 15, 2024.

Crime

Man killed, woman wounded in Gage Park shooting

The two were sitting in a car about 5 p.m. in the 5000 block of South Western Avenue when they suffered gunshot wounds.

By Sun-Times Wire

Chicago

Will in recluse’s probate case allowed as evidence; heirs must await decision on his $11 million fortune

Admission of the will that mysteriously surfaced was not the “final word on validity,” a Cook County judge said, leaving hope for distant relatives who expected a share of Joseph Stancak’s millions.

By Mitch Dudek

Customers line up at the new Starbucks branch at 5807 S. Western Ave. on Tuesday.

Business

New Starbucks hopes to perk up Gage Park, West Englewood

The Starbucks, 5807 S. Western Ave., has added 35 jobs and cost $3 million to open.

By Kade Heather

Gage Park

16-year-old among three people shot in Gage Park

A 16-year-old boy, a 24-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were standing in the street in the 5100 block of South Christiana Avenue when they were shot, police said. They are all in good condition.

By Sun-Times Wire

USA vs. Edward M. Burke

‘Common sense’ doesn’t explain City Council, so judge to allow Chicago ‘civics lesson’ for Burke jurors

Political science professor’s testimony will be crucial to helping jury understand the racketeering case against former Ald. Ed Burke, prosecutors say.

By Jon Seidel and Mariah Woelfel | WBEZ

SW Side recluse’s record-setting $11 million unclaimed estate thrown into chaos by newly surfaced will

By Mitch Dudek

Crime

2 shot during funeral service in Gage Park

A woman, 72, and a man, 32, were wounded when someone opened fire about 4:40 p.m. near Emanuel’s Chapel Funeral Home.

By Sun-Times Wire

Chicago

Break-in reported at Gage Park migrant shelter

15th Ward Ald. Raymond Lopez said a male entered the women’s dormitory early Thursday but did not make direct contact with any residents.

By Sophie Sherry

bus, migrants, Chicago Union Station, immigration

City Hall

Chicago’s migrant crisis will intensify as Democratic National Convention draws near, top mayoral aide says

GOP governors want to use the crisis to embarrass Democratic mayors, said Cristina Pacione-Zayas, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s deputy chief of staff.

By Fran Spielman

A man was fatally shot Saturday afternoon in Englewood.

Crime

Man killed in Gage Park shooting

The 59-year-old was killed Saturday in the in the 5000 block of South Talman Avenue.

By Kade Heather and Sun-Times Wire

The Gage Park fieldhouse, 2411 W. 55th St., which Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) offered as a respite center for up to 300 single migrant men now forced to sleep on police station floors.

Immigration

Gage Park field house to serve as respite center for hundreds of migrant men

Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) said he volunteered the field house —possibly through Dec. 31 — because “stagnation has to come to an end.”

By Fran Spielman

A mural by artist James Jankowiak at 59th Street and Central Park Avenue on the Southwest Side that pairs a painted tree with a real one.

James Jankowiak made use of a real tree for this mural near Midway Airport

By Sun-Times staff