Zet Rodriguez, a 24-year-old father and crisis counselor from Chicago, was fatally shot on May 10, 2024, while on his way to work in the Dunning neighborhood. The incident occurred in the 3900 block of North Pittsburgh Avenue, just a block from his home, around 7 a.m. as he was walking to the bus stop to head to his job.
Rodriguez was approached by a suspect, later identified as Divonte Calhoun, who attempted to rob him and then shot him in the chest.
Surveillance video captured the shooting, showing the suspect rummaging through Rodriguez's pockets after he fell to the ground. Despite efforts by a nearby resident who used her sweater to try and help him, Rodriguez succumbed to his injuries.
The police initially took two people of interest into custody for questioning but released them without charges on the following Sunday. However, after gathering additional evidence, including cell phone data from Calhoun's phone, the police re-arrested Calhoun on Sunday and took Justin Redmond, 41, into custody on Monday. Both Calhoun and Redmond, who are convicted felons and were on parole at the time of the killing, were charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery.
Rodriguez was a graduate of Noble Street College Prep and held a psychology degree from Albion College in Michigan. He had returned to Chicago in 2022 to pursue a career in social work. At the time of his death, he had a six-month-old daughter and was expecting a second child with his partner, whom he had planned to propose to on Mother's Day.
The community and Rodriguez's family have been deeply affected by his sudden and violent death. A GoFundMe fundraiser set up by his family has raised over $36,000 to support his loved ones. The incident has been described as a "random act of violence" with no known connections between Rodriguez and the suspects.
