Lazaro Vazquez, a 26-year-old Hispanic male, was fatally shot on September 14, 2020, in Chicago, Illinois. The incident occurred in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, specifically in the 2900 block of West Chicago Avenue. According to reports, Lazaro Vazquez and his girlfriend were driving around the area early in the morning, looking for a car to burglarize. They spotted a seemingly unoccupied white sedan with heavily tinted windows. Vazquez approached the vehicle and attempted to open the driver’s side door. However, he was startled when the door opened, and a man, later identified as Adam Woods, stepped out. As Vazquez turned to run back to his car, Woods fired multiple shots, striking Vazquez in the back of his head, lower back, and knee. Vazquez was unarmed and did not pose any threat during the encounter. He was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Adam Woods, a 33-year-old African American male, was arrested and charged with the murder of Lazaro Vazquez. Woods was apprehended on February 18, 2021, and was ordered to be held without bail. The investigation revealed that Woods had two previous gun-related felony charges. During the incident, Woods was seen wearing a mask when he exited and re-entered the car, which was registered to his girlfriend. A red cell phone recovered at the scene was traced back to Woods, further linking him to the crime. Prosecutors indicated that they expected to file an additional armed habitual criminal charge against Woods.
The case against Adam Woods proceeded with significant evidence, including video footage from the area showing the sequence of events. The footage depicted Vazquez being startled when Woods exited the vehicle and subsequently being shot as he attempted to flee. The prosecution emphasized that Vazquez was unarmed and did not threaten Woods at any point during the encounter. Woods' defense argued that he acted in self-defense, but the evidence presented by the prosecution painted a different picture. The court proceedings continued, with Woods facing serious charges for the fatal shooting of Lazaro Vazquez.
