Fourth victim dies from shooting spree

A 61-year-old woman shot in an Evanston IHOP parking lot near the end of a shooting spree last weekend has died, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Marta Torres died at 6 p.m. Saturday at St. Francis Hospital. She is the fourth person killed by in a crime spree police say was committed by gunman Jason Nightengale, 32.

Police said Nightengale shot seven people in Chicago and Evanston before he was killed by Evanston police officers Jan. 9. The current conditions of the other three people wounded could not be confirmed Sunday.

Chicago police officers said the spree began with Nightengale fatally shooting a 30-year-old man in a parking garage in the 5000 block of East End. The University of Chicago later identified that man as Ph.D. student Yiran Fan.

Then, in an apartment complex about a block away, Nightengale shot and killed 46-year-old Aisha Nevell, known better as Aisha Johnson, who manned the door at an East Hyde Park condominium, police said. He also shot a 77-year-old woman in the head while grabbing her mail at the complex, according to police.

Nightengale proceeded to an apartment building in the 5500 block of South East End and forced a man he knew at gunpoint to give Nightengale his red Toyota, police said. He drove to the 9300 block of South Halsted and entered a convenience store around 3 p.m. He shot and killed 20-year-old Anthony Faulkner, police said, and also shot an 81-year-old woman who was left in critical condition as of last Sunday.

An hour later, a 15-year-old girl was shot in the head as she rode in a vehicle in the 10300 block of South Halsted Street with her mother. Brown said Nightengale is believed to be responsible for that shooting as well. It left the girl in critical condition as of last Sunday.

About 5:45 p.m., Evanston police responded to shots fired at the Evanston IHOP where Torres was held hostage and then shot by Nightengale, police said. Nightengale then ran out of the restaurant and got in a shootout with Evanston officers in a nearby Dollar General parking lot, where he was killed.

In response to Torres’ death, the local Evanston IHOP franchisee released a statement saying it was “deeply saddened.”

“This was a senseless act of violence... This is a heartbreaking situation and our thoughts are with Ms. Torres’ family at this time,” the statement read.

Nightengale’s family told the Sun-Times he “was fighting some demons.” Leading up to the shootings, the man also posted dozens of videos online in which he ranted about Satan, waved a gun and talked about killing random people.

Contributing: Madeline Kenney