Rodrigo Rangel, a 16-year-old Hispanic male, tragically lost his life on May 7, 2020, in Chicago, IL. The incident occurred in the Ashburn neighborhood, where Rodrigo was a passenger in a vehicle when he was fatally shot in the head. The shooting took place around 10:35 a.m. in the 3900 block of West 83rd Street. Rodrigo was quickly transported to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead at 11 a.m.
The suspect in this case, Steve Kawar, a 54-year-old man, was
charged with first-degree murder. According to police reports, Kawar claimed he was acting in self-defense. He alleged that Rodrigo and his friends, who were believed to be members of the Ambrose gang, had been chasing his son, mistaking him for a rival gang member. Kawar's son had called him for help, leading Kawar to confront the vehicle Rodrigo was in. Kawar, a concealed-carry holder, claimed that someone in Rodrigo's car fired at him first, prompting him to return fire. However, witnesses, including an Uber Eats driver, reported that Kawar fired the first shots.
The investigation revealed that Kawar had picked up his shell casings and disposed of them down the street before speaking with the Uber Eats driver. He did not mention self-defense to the driver but instead referred to "Mexican gangbangers flying down the street." Evidence, including an exit hole in the car's windshield and a shell casing recovered at the scene, suggested that Kawar fired first. The Uber Eats driver corroborated this, stating that smoke was seen rising from Kawar's gun at the time the first shot was heard.
Kawar was held on $350,000 bail and faced charges of first-degree murder. The case highlighted the complexities of self-defense claims and the impact of gang-related violence on the community. Rodrigo Rangel's death was a tragic reminder of the ongoing issues of gun violence and gang activity in Chicago. The legal proceedings against Kawar continued as the community sought justice for the young victim.
