A man died after he was shot at least four times – including in the face and chest – in a Gage Park neighborhood alley Wednesday night on the Southwest Side, authorities said.
Frederico Martinez, of the 5400 block of South California Avenue, died from gunshot wounds he suffered near his home, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.
Police said he was Chicago's 499th homicide victim of the year.
Police said the 32-year-old Martinez was standing with a female in an alleyway down the block from his home when a light-colored pick-up truck approached and somebody inside opened fire on the two just before 10 p.m.
Martinez was shot in the face, chest and both arms and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died at 10:41 p.m., authorities said.
The female, whose age was not released by authorities, was not injured, police said.
Area Central detectives were investigating but no one was in custody by Thursday evening.
Behind the troubling statistics, flashing lights and crime tape, communities throughout the city are searching for solutions.
"There's no magic spell that can end it. It's a matter of people and neighborhoods coming together and deciding that it's not going to happen," said neighbor Robert Grider.
Larry Pickens, who is running in the special election to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. in his now vacated 2nd Congressional seat, offered a few suggestions Thursday: "Teaching our young people alternative dispute resolution, non-violent strategies for addressing conflict and getting guns off the street."
