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Police seek witnesses, video of 59/Western
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By Tim Hadac
Police are appealing to the public to help find those responsible for the slaying of a 20-year-old West Englewood man during a takeover of the intersection at 59th and Western at 3:21 a.m. Sunday, May 5.
The victim–identified as Guillermo “Memito” Caballero Jr., of the 7000 block of South Winchester–was found by police responding to a “person shot” call. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his body and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the shooter was a man or boy who fired directly at the victim’s windshield. No one is in custody.
Further, police said Caballero was “driving in his black Honda Accord when he was caught in the midst of a street takeover” conducting by the drivers of at least 20 vehicles.
Surveillance footage shows the takeover of 59th and Western just after 3 a.m. Sunday, May 5. Guillermo Caballero’s black Honda Accord is at the right of the circle. –Supplied photo
Caballero, “after entering the ring of vehicles and pedestrians, was attempting to exit the intersection when two offenders fired multiple times into the vehicle,” police added.
It remains unclear whether Caballero was participating in the takeover or whether he was an innocent motorist simply trying to get through the intersection. Fifteenth Ward Ald. Raymond Lopez said police told him in a briefing that it appeared that Caballero was not
CPD is requesting that anyone with information, photographs or video footage of the street takeover and the shooting to contact Area 1 detectives at (312) 747-8380 or by email to Area 1 Detective Reitz at steven.reitz@chicagopolice.org.
Those wishing to remain anonymous may submit information at cpdtip.com and refer to case number JH-250869.
To pay Caballero’s funeral expenses, a total of nearly $10,000 from 187 donors has been raised via two different GoFundMe pages.
Guillermo Caballero Jr. –Supplied photo
A woman identifying herself as Caballero’s sister, Estrella, recalled him as “the life of the party. Everyone who had the blessing of being around my brother had a guaranteed, genuine great laugh. It was always fun when he was around. He always knew how to make people smile and laugh.
“It brings us a lot of pain knowing he will no longer be with us. He was such a joyful and outgoing person. His life was cut short due to gun violence in a city he loved so much.
“Losing your life trying to get home in Chicago is the new norm,” she continued. “My parents are heartbroken since receiving this horrible news. He had just turned 20 on April and lived every second while on this earth to the fullest. No one ever expected for him to die in such a cruel way. We demand justice.”
Caballero was reportedly on his way home from a party he attended to watch the Jaime Munguia vs. Canelo Alvarez boxing match. He was driving east on 59th Street, approaching Western, when he saw the intersection takeover.
The Caballero family had moved to West Englewood to escape the violence plaguing the West Side where they had lived, according to a published report—and were days away from moving again, this time to the south suburbs.
Neighbors react
Customers outside Advance Auto Parts, just south of the intersection, weighed in on the killing last Saturday.
“I heard about [the fatal shooting],” said Eduardo Montez. “I don’t know if [Caballero] was a part of that drifting stuff. Either way, I can’t imagine he deserved to die over that.”
Steve Barrera bemoaned what he called “the inability or unwillingness of police to put a stop to this drifting stuff. I mean, I’m 45 years old, and when I was in my 20s—sure, I did crazy things with my car. But I never took over an intersection or anything like that. We did donuts and stuff like that, but it was in empty parking lots. These days, I don’t think the mayor cares enough to do anything about [drag racing and drifting].”
His wife, Silvia Rios-Barrera, agreed and added, “I don’t know why the mayor doesn’t just have the police get in there and seize a few cars on the spot. That would send a message to these car guys. You could ticket them or arrest them, but that won’t help. But you take their whip away—now you have their attention. They care about their cars more than anything, these guys.”
David Sánchez contributed to this story.