A young father was ordered held on $2.5 million bail Tuesday for allegedly supplying an assault weapon used in the murders of three teenage boys caught in gang crossfire on the Southeast Side.
Geovanni Edmund Lopez retrieved the loaded, imported Eastern European rifle from fellow Latin King Martin Ybarra Jr.’s home, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Melissa Howlett said. Lopez, 22, then gave it to Ybarra to use in their ongoing battle with the Black P Stones on Feb. 20, 2009, she said.
Lopez then got into a car with Ybarra, who later started his bloody siege on foot and ended it with his body hanging outside a vehicle, spraying bullets near 87th and Exchange, Howlett said.
As he aimed for a 24-year-old rival gang member, Ybarra allegedly gunned down 13-year-old Johnny Edwards and Bowen High students Kendrick Pitts, 17, and Raheem Washington, 15.
Johnny, shot once in the back, apparently died next to his brother, who cried out for help. The older teens were shot five times each from the weapon, which has since been recovered, Howlett said.
Just six months before the fatal shootings, Ybarra stood trial for a 2005 fatal shooting near the same corner. He was acquitted. Ybarra, now 23, was arrested just days following the triple homicide. He has been ordered held without bail and is awaiting trial.
Howlett said police have been looking for Lopez ever since. The Lansing man who is known as “Cali” was arrested for the murders on Christmas.
Lopez, the father of two children under 4, has prior convictions for unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, robbery and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
