Austin

A man was fatally shot Friday in Rogers Park.

Crime

Ride-hailing driver shot, critically wounded in attempted carjacking in Austin

A 51-year-old driver was dropping off a fare about 10:10 p.m. in the 900 block of North LeClaire Avenue when three males approached, fired and fled, police said.

By Cindy Hernandez

Los robos ocurrieron entre las 7:20 y las 8:20 a.m. el jueves, según la policía. | Archivos Sun-Times

Crime

Teen boy wounded in Austin shooting

The boy, 15, was shot in the leg in an apartment in the 1700 block of North Mango Avenue before 5 p.m. Tuesday.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

4 children left alone on New Year’s Eve in Austin; woman charged with child endangerment

The children, ages 1, 4, 7 and 11, were found in a home Sunday afternoon after one of them flagged passing police. A 29-year-old woman has been arrested.

By Sun-Times Wire

The George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse.

Chicago

Former head of wrongful conviction unit leaves Cook County state’s attorney’s office month after demotion

Nancy Adduci was a rising star in the prosecutor’s office but has faced allegations she hid evidence from the investigation of the 2011 murder of Chicago Police officer Clifton Lewis.

By Andy Grimm

Adriana Arocha-Duque smiles as she holds her golden retriever-looking, red plaid-clad dog, Hunter, in front of a silvery Christmas tree.

Crime

Family seeks justice for Lyft driver shot, killed in Austin day after Christmas

Adriana Arocha-Duque, 34, who sought asylum in the U.S. from Venezuela in 2017, was found shot to death in her SUV Tuesday evening. No one is in custody.

By Emmanuel Camarillo and Sophie Sherry

Three people were carjacked June 18, 2021.

Crime

Woman found fatally shot after crashing into parked vehicles in Austin

Officers responding to a crash in the 4800 block of West Thomas Street about 8:45 p.m. Tuesday found the woman in the driver’s seat with a gunshot wound to the head.

By Sun-Times Wire

Maria Roque’s twin brother, Andres Roque, holds a candle and prays, while close family friend Denise Gonzalez tries to comfort him as they join other mourners for a vigil for Roque at The 5800 Corp bar in Cicero on Dec. 15, 2023.

News

Ex-boyfriend of slain Austin woman wanted in connection with her slaying

Chicago police have requested the public’s help locating Kenneth Brown, 44, who is wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of his ex-girlfriend Maria Roque.

By Sophie Sherry

City Hall

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s anti-violence strategy takes ex-Mayor Lightfoot’s plans to a new level in 4 violent neighborhoods

Mayor Brandon Johnson plans a range of resources, including another round of guaranteed basic income, targeted this time to four neighborhoods.

By Fran Spielman and Tom Schuba

Crime

Man fatally shot in Austin

Officers found the man, 44, lying on a sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds in the 1600 block of North Mango Avenue about 7:50 p.m., police said.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

Naperville man arrested at O’Hare in fatal Austin stabbing

Alexander Iwerebon, 27, was arrested Friday. He allegedly stabbed a 45-year-old man to death in the 5800 block of West Division Street on Nov. 14.

By Sun-Times Wire

Maria Roque’s twin brother Andres Roque (center) holds a candle and prays, while close family friend Denise Gonzalez tries to comfort him as they join other mourners for a vigil for Roque at The 5800 Corp bar in Cicero on Dec. 15, 2023.

Crime

Relatives anguished, angry after Austin mom of 2 gunned down on her front lawn

Maria Roque, 34, was a loving and committed mom who had “dreams and aspirations” in her career, her family says.

By Mary Norkol

Crime

Lawsuits accuse Chicago police, prosecutors and a judge of framing two men for the murder of an off-duty officer

Edgardo Colon and Tyrone Clay accuse prosecutors and detectives of hiding evidence in the murder of Officer Clifton Lewis. Meanwhile, a third man serving time for the killing is making new accusations of misconduct.

By Andy Grimm

Gunfire was exchanged during a robbery Saturday morning at a gas station in River North.

Crime

Carjacking suspect killed in hit-and-run while fleeing police in Austin

Vesmo Banks, 25, was seen exiting a car that was reported stolen. He fled and was hit by a car in the 800 block of South Cicero Avenue, police say.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

Man charged with attempted murder in connection with multiple armed carjackings, robbery in Austin

Lennie Myles, 19, allegedly threatened to kill two people, committed two carjackings and stole a teen’s clothing before he was arrested Monday.

By Emmanuel Camarillo

Mohammed K. Al Hijoj, 39, was fatally shot Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, while driving in the Austin neighborhood, officials said. Al Hijoj came to the U.S. 15 years ago from Jordan and has been a limo driver for more than 10 years. He mentored younger drivers.

Crime

Longtime limo driver, father of 2 shot, killed in Austin

Mohammed K. Al Hejoj, 39, was on the job carrying four passengers when he was shot in the 1700 block of North Lotus Street on Sunday, officials said. The passengers fled.

By Kade Heather

Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) speaks with a South Austin resident. Wednesday evening, the local alderman announced plans to turn the Amundsen Park field house into a migrant shelter had been abandoned and park programming would return instead.

Immigration

Amundsen Park won’t become migrant shelter; park district programs return

Plans to turn the West Side park field house into a migrant shelter have been abandoned as the number of migrants camped out at police stations has dropped, Ald. Chris Taliaferro said.

By Michael Loria

From left to right, Johan Delgado, Michel Sandoval, Wilmer Morales, Ruth Lamour, and Andres Uzcategu discuss plans for the day at Ruth Lamour’s home in Austin, on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. Ruth Lamour will be hosting a Thanksgiving dinner with her family and migrants from Venezuela that she has been hosting at her home as they find jobs and a place to rent.

Immigration

Migrants, host family to share first Thanksgiving together: ‘Thanks to God we’ve always found good people on our trip here’

Migrants staying with West Side families show appreciation for all the help they have received on the journey to Chicago.

By Michael Loria

Crime

Man faces murder charges in fatal shooting of boy, 16, in Austin

Leon Taylor, 33, was arrested Saturday night and is facing a first-degree murder charge. The two were involved in fight when the man shot the teen multiple times, authorities say.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

16-year-old boy fatally shot in Austin

About 11:15 a.m., Keshaun Rhodes was in the 5000 block of West Madison Street when he was shot in the abdomen and in the back of his head, Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

By Sun-Times Wire

David Scott Crawford (izquierda) deja que los gemelos Allan y Aaron Rodríguez Ramírez acaricien a su perro Lumi, con sus padres, Erik Edición Rodríguez Mundini y Francis Nattaly Ramírez González, afuera de una iglesia de Oak Park que se ha convertido en un refugio temporal para inmigrantes.

Immigration

Oak Park takes emergency steps to help with migrant crisis

The village has approved emergency spending and recently provided emergency shelter for more than 100 migrants staying at a Chicago police station.

By Michael Loria

Maurice Richmond is manager of the locally owned nonprofit Go Green Community Fresh Market in Englewood, which offers ready-to-eat meal options from local vendors, and a deli and coffee counter. He had questions when he learned of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s exploration of a city-owned grocery store. “My first thought was, great,” Richmond says. “My second thought was, ‘How is that going to look?”

Chicago

Food deserts plague Chicago neighborhoods. Could the city run its own grocery stores to fill in the gaps?

Following the city’s announcement that it was exploring the possibility of a publicly owned store, one grocer said his “first thought was, great. My second thought was, ‘How is that going to look?’”

By Mariah Rush and Michael Loria

Inches of water flood Denise Abbott’s basement in Austin, Sunday, July 3, 2023.

City Hall

West Side flooding prompts deluge of complaints at budget hearing

“I don’t see nothing there for the West Side. It makes me sick to my stomach,” Ald. Emma Mitts told Water Commissioner Andrea Cheng.

By Fran Spielman

Crime

1 dead, 1 badly wounded in separate shootings 20 minutes apart in Austin

The two men, both 32, were initially taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, but one later died after the shootings.

By Sun-Times Wire

El concejal Chris Taliaferro (29º) argumenta que la instalación en el Parque Amundsen es necesaria para que los jóvenes del barrio no se reúnan en el centro y causen disturbios.

Immigration

Plans for migrant shelter at Amundsen Park field house on hold as city seeks alternate site

Ald. Chris Taliaferro said the city was considering a site across the street from the park to house asylum-seekers. Community members complained about the potential loss of a valuable resource for young people.

By Violet Miller

Crime

Boy, 16, critically wounded in Austin shooting

Police said he was shot in the head in the 4900 block of West Madison Street.

By Sun-Times Wire

A new interactive mural features a goal and instructions on how to position your foot to strike a ball. It also depicts some simple footwork and passing drills, as well as targets for players to aim at.

Interactive mural on West Side aims to coach, inspire next generation of soccer players

By Emmanuel Camarillo

News

Three men wounded in Austin shooting

Officers responded to a shooting and discovered the men in the 5100 block of West Madison Street, police said.

By Sun-Times Wire

A rendering of the Community Center for Teaching and Learning.

Education

Malcolm X College’s Far West Side satellite campus to get $9.5 million expansion

A 3,000-square feet addition to the satellite campus will be called the Community Center for Teaching and Learning. Besides boosting student capacity by 50% to 2,000, the community center will also serve as an events space.

By David Struett

Austin

West Side credit union launches online, teases physical branch opening

The credit union — Leaders Network Financial in partnership with Great Lakes Credit Union — is open to members of the Leaders Network. They hope to open a branch at 5600 W. Madison St. in February, with a possible interim branch before then.

By Michael Loria

The funeral procession for Officer Clifton Lewis leaves United Missionary Baptist Church in January 2012.

Crime

Man gets life sentence in 2011 killing of off-duty Chicago cop; vows to appeal, says he was framed

Alexander Villa was convicted of gunning down Lewis during the armed robbery of a convenience store at Division Street and Austin Boulevard, where Lewis was working as a security guard.

By Andy Grimm