Belmont Cragin

Investigation Underway into Shooting by ICE Agent

Mar 28, 2017 | WLSAM Staff

By Jennifer Keiper, WLS-AM 890 News

(CHICAGO) An investigation is underway into the shooting of a man in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood Monday by an immigration agent who was trying to make an arrest.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say the special agent was attempting to arrest someone just before 6:30 a.m. Monday, on the 61-hundred block of West Grand Avenue, when a second person pointed a weapon toward agents.

ICE officials say the special agent fired his weapon, shooting and injuring 53-year-old Felix Torres in his left arm. He was taken to a hospital in serious condition and stabilized.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office won’t reveal details and 36th Ward Alderman Gilbert Villegas tells ABC7, ” They’re treating our office like nobody. So, that tells me that I have to talk to the congressmen and the senators to get some answers on this issue but this is very alarming.”

An ICE spokesman says that any time one of their officers or special agents discharges their firearm in the line of duty, the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility reviews the matter. “This is an ongoing review, and no further details will be released at this time,” says an ICE Spokesperson.

Police: Man ‘intentionally’ struck by vehicle, gravely wounded on NW Side

Feb 23, 2015 |

(CHICAGO) A man was “intentionally” struck by a vehicle and gravely wounded Sunday night in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood on the Northwest Side, police said.

The 53-year-old man was struck about 7:30 p.m. near Diversey and Lavergne avenues, said police News Affairs Officer Ronald Gaines.

Gaines said the man knew the male who was driving the vehicle. He was taken in grave condition to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

No one has been charged in connection with the incident as police investigate.

Stepdad: Boy, 13, shot dead on NW Side during confrontation over Facebook

Feb 9, 2015 |

A 13-year-old boy was shot to death Sunday night in the Northwest Side Belmont Cragin neighborhood. / photo from Network Video Productions

(CHICAGO) A 13-year-old boy who was shot to death Sunday night in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood had sneaked out of his home with his sisters to confront someone over posts on Facebook, according to a family member.

Anthony Diaz and two of his sisters, ages 15 and 17, left their Northwest Side home about 10:35 p.m. to confront someone over Facebook posts, said Anthony’s stepfather, Ralph Otero, 47. He said the teens got jumped and somebody pulled out a gun.

Chicago Police said the boy was walking with a group in the 6000 block of Grand when someone walked up and opened fire, striking him in the left side of his body. The bullet exited through his chest.

Otero and his wife were sleeping when they got a call from Anthony’s 17-year-old sister saying he had been shot.

“I saw him lying on the ground about a block away from our house,” Otero said.

The boy was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. The Cook County medical examiner’s office could not confirm the death.

The shooting happened near the family’s home. Otero, an evangelical preacher, said they moved to the neighborhood in November from Kostner and Armitage. Anthony was one of six siblings.

“We just moved there from a bad area because it’s supposed to be better, and this is what we got,” Otero said.

“He’s a good student, he’s not a gangbanger. He didn’t give us any headaches,” Otero said. He said Anthony, who went to Burbank Elementary School, loved basketball and watched the Bulls game Sunday evening.

“This is unbelievable,” Otero said.