Oscar Suarez, a 21-year-old Hispanic male, was tragically killed on June 29, 2020, in the Brighton Park neighborhood of Chicago, IL. Suarez was walking in the 4400 block of South Whipple Street around 2:22 a.m. when a male suspect approached him and shot him in the face and leg. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified him as Oscar Suarez-Perez.
Suarez had recently moved to Indiana with the mother of his 1-year-old son but returned to Chicago to retrieve a cellphone he had lent to a friend. His death marked the last recorded homicide of a particularly violent weekend in Chicago, during which 51 people were shot, 18 of them fatally.
The investigation into Oscar Suarez's death revealed that a handgun was found at the scene, but no arrests have been made. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots, with estimates ranging from 12 to 13 shots fired. Some neighbors mentioned seeing a man on a bike fleeing the scene shortly after the shooting. The area where Suarez was killed is known to be controlled by a Two-Six gang faction, and the neighborhood has experienced increased violence in recent years.
Oscar Suarez had a criminal record, including an arrest for attempted murder and aggravated battery in September 2017. He was found not guilty in a bench trial in August 2018 but was convicted of possession of cannabis with intent to deliver while out on bail. He was sentenced to a minimum of two years of probation in September 2018, along with some jail time. Despite his past, Suarez was remembered by his family and friends as a loving person and a devoted father to his young son. His sister, Mari Suarez, and his friend, Vanessa "KoKo Moon," described him as someone who always expressed his love and cared deeply for those around him.
The investigation into Suarez's murder remains ongoing, with Area One detectives continuing to search for leads and gather evidence. The lack of arrests and the presence of gang activity in the area have made the case challenging for law enforcement. Suarez's death is a stark reminder of the pervasive gun violence in Chicago and the impact it has on families and communities.
