Victor Cazares Jr., a 27-year-old Hispanic male, tragically lost his life on June 1, 2020, in Cicero, Illinois. The incident occurred during a period of civil unrest following the killing of George Floyd. Victor, who was unarmed, was shot in the head while standing in front of the Super Espiga grocery store on the 4900 block of 14th Street. He was attempting to protect the store from looters when he was fatally wounded. Despite being transported to Mount Sinai Medical Center in Chicago, he was pronounced dead at 7:31 p.m. that evening.
Victor's death was part of a broader wave of violence and unrest that swept through Cicero as protestors clashed with armed residents. The unrest was fueled by rumors and social media footage suggesting impending break-ins into local businesses. Many community members and surrounding Chicago residents likened these groups to vigilantes who targeted Black people in Cicero. The Cook County Medical Examiner confirmed that Victor died from a gunshot wound to the head. Another individual, Jose Gutierrez, 28, from Chicago, was also shot and killed on the same day. A man was arrested in connection with Gutierrez's shooting, but no arrests have been made in Victor's case.
In the aftermath of Victor's death, his family and the community held various protests to address the racially motivated attacks and to support the Black Lives Matter movement. A vigil was held on June 3, 2020, where friends and family gathered to mourn and honor Victor's memory. His parents, Victor Sr. and Lupe Cazares, expressed their profound grief and shared their plans to spread Victor's ashes in Mexico.
The family of Victor Cazares Jr. has also filed a lawsuit against the Town of Cicero. The lawsuit alleges that paramedics took a photo of Victor's bloodied body and shared it on social media with a caption that implied he was looting. This photo, posted by a retired fire department lieutenant, led to taunts and offensive comments directed at Victor's family. The lawsuit claims that the paramedics and the Town of Cicero violated Victor's privacy and slandered his name. Cicero police have stated that they are still investigating the incident and have opened an internal affairs investigation into the photo.
Despite the ongoing investigation, no suspects have been identified or arrested in connection with Victor's murder. The family continues to seek justice and has urged anyone with information to come forward. Cook County Crime Stoppers has offered a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest. The case remains open, and the family remains hopeful that justice will be served.
