Albertano Medrano, a 44-year-old Hispanic man, was fatally shot on September 5, 2016, in Chicago, Illinois. Medrano was double-parked in his vehicle in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, waiting for his wife and a friend, when a white van pulled up beside him. The occupants of the van were reportedly searching for rival gang members to target. Without warning, at least ten shots were fired, four of which struck Medrano in the neck, head, and back.
The remaining bullets hit nearby buildings and vehicles. Medrano attempted to flee but crashed into three parked cars. He was transported to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Authorities identified Victor Vazquez, a 20-year-old man, as the driver of the van involved in the shooting. The van had been reported stolen, and its steering column had been tampered with to allow it to start without a key. After the shooting, the van sped away and crashed approximately two miles from the scene. Vazquez and another individual fled on foot, attempting to hide a rifle in a clothing donation box at a nearby gas station. When the weapon did not fit, they discarded it in nearby bushes. Surveillance footage from the gas station captured their movements, leading police to track them down in an alley. Vazquez was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He later admitted to driving the van during the shooting. A judge ordered him held on a $1 million bond.
Medrano, a father of five, was one of nine men killed in Chicago over a violent 21-hour period spanning Labor Day. In addition to the homicides, 22 other individuals were wounded in shootings across the city. The tragic loss of Medrano underscored the ongoing gun violence plaguing Chicago, particularly in neighborhoods affected by gang activity. His death left his family and community mourning the senseless act that took his life.
