Irving Estrada, a 17-year-old boy, was fatally shot on August 22, 2017, while playing basketball with friends in Cicero, Illinois. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. in the 1600 block of South 56th Court, just two blocks north of where the alleged shooter, Desmond Jones, lived. Estrada and his friends were approached by a man on a bicycle who offered them marijuana, which they declined. The man, later identified as Jones, returned with a young boy who appeared to be about 14 years old. Jones, a member of the Latin Counts gang, asked the group if they were in a gang, and they all denied it. During the exchange, Estrada smirked at the young boy, which angered Jones. Jones then used a racial epithet and told the boy to shoot Estrada. The boy took out a handgun and shot Estrada in the stomach. Estrada was taken to Loyola University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:08 p.m.
Desmond Jones, 20, was charged with murder in connection with Estrada's death. He was ordered held on $1 million bail by Maybrook District Court Judge Gregory Paul Vasquez. Cicero police arrested Jones on Thursday, and he was named in a murder warrant issued in September. Jones was charged after being arrested in an unrelated matter. The young boy who shot Estrada is still being sought by authorities. Video footage from the area shows two people riding their bicycles toward the group playing basketball and then riding away after the shooting. Witnesses described the attackers to police as people who lived in the neighborhood and identified Jones as the man who told the boy to shoot Estrada.
Friends and family of Irving Estrada gathered at the basketball court where he was killed to mourn his loss. Estrada was known for his love of basketball and was often seen playing on the neighborhood court. His friends described him as a cool guy who was funny and athletic. The community was shocked by the incident, as they had never experienced gang activity in the area before. Estrada's mother was devastated by the loss of her son, and the pain was apparent to all who saw her. The police investigation is ongoing, and they are hopeful that security video from nearby homes will help identify the suspects.
