Cicero man charged with murder in shooting of Bridgeport bystander

Gerardo Campos is due in bond court Sunday in the shooting death of Alva Besst, 68, who was killed by a stray bullet while driving in the neighborhood last month.

Al Besst was a well-liked figure in the Bridgeport community and was active at First Trinity Lutheran Church.

Al Besst was a well-liked figure in the Bridgeport community and was active at First Trinity Lutheran Church.

Provided

A Cicero resident has been charged with killing a 68-year-old Bridgeport man who was struck by a stray bullet last month while driving in the South Side neighborhood.

Gerardo Campos, 26, faces a count of first-degree murder in the Feb. 16 shooting, Chicago police announced Saturday.

Campos was apparently aiming for someone else about 6 p.m. that day when a bullet he fired went through Alva Besst’s rear car window and struck the older man in the head as he was driving, police said.

Besst crashed into a snow pile near Halsted and 31st streets, about a block from CPD’s Deering District station, police said.

Besst was rushed to Stroger Hospital, but later died.

Gerardo Campos

Gerardo Campos

Chicago police

Campos was arrested about 5:05 p.m. Thursday in the 800 block of West 31st Street following an investigation, police said.

He appeared in bond court Sunday where a judge ordered him held without bail, according to county records.

Besst was a member of First Trinity Lutheran Church and loved to talk about the history of his neighborhood, a friend at his church told the Sun-Times.

“He loved to talk and he loved people, though it took a while to warm up to him,” Andrew Mack said. “I was blessed to know him, to listen to his stories. He loved to tell stories.”

The Latest
Previously struggling to keep its doors open, the Buena Park establishment received a boost from the popular TikToker.
Bagent also said the negative publicity about teammate Caleb Williams leading to the draft has turned out to be “completely false.”
Deputy Sean Grayson has been fired and charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Massey, who had called 911 to report a possible prowler. He has pleaded not guilty. The family says the Department of Justice is investigating.
Here’s how Kamala Harris and the Democratic National Convention are embracing Charli XCX’s social media post that sparked a cultural movement.
Thousands gathered in Union Park for the Pitchfork Music Festival, the Chicago Bears started training camp at Halas Hall, and Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off her presidential campaign.