Albert Posey, a 57-year-old man from Westchester, was fatally shot on December 28, 2020, while driving on the Lower West Side of Chicago. The incident occurred around 4 a.m. in the 2300 block of South Wood Street. Posey was driving south when someone in a gold-colored SUV opened fire, striking him multiple times in the back. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Cook County medical examiner's office ruled his death a homicide, and Area Four detectives launched an investigation into the shooting.
In January 2024, prosecutors charged Angel Avelar, a 22-year-old man, with first-degree murder in connection with Posey's death. Avelar was on bail for a felony gun charge at the time of the incident. According to prosecutors, Avelar was driving his father's Chevy Tahoe with two passengers who were spray-painting gang graffiti in the area. As Posey drove past the Tahoe, he stopped his car, got out, and then returned to his vehicle. Avelar then moved the Tahoe closer to Posey, and one of the passengers opened fire, killing Posey. Chicago police later stopped Avelar's vehicle and found gunshot residue in the back passenger area, along with videos of the tagging on Avelar's phone. GPS data from the phone placed Avelar at the scene of the murder.
The investigation revealed that Avelar's passengers were involved in gang activity, and one of them, who was 19 years old at the time of the shooting, was also charged with Posey's murder. However, due to his age, his case may be handled in juvenile court. Avelar, who had previously been released from electronic monitoring and completed probation for a prior gun possession charge, is now detained as a public safety threat. The case highlights the ongoing issue of violent crimes committed by individuals out on bail for felony charges in Chicago.
