Police on the Northwest Side have taken a 19-year-old into custody in connection with two separate beatings that occurred less than 24 hours apart, one of which resulted in the death of a 29-year-old man. Authorities believe the incidents are linked, and say swift investigative work—including surveillance review and evidence collection—led to the arrest.
Suspect Identified Through Surveillance and Scene Evidence
Investigators say the victim, a 29-year-old man, was found with severe head trauma in an alley on the 1700 block of W Gramercy Place. Officers reviewing camera footage identified the suspect at the scene carrying a wooden stick and dressed in a red shirt marked “Alpha”—the same shirt later found with blood evidence. The suspect was located nearby the next day, wearing layers of clothing and later changing clothes in an apparent attempt to evade detection.
The suspect was already known to police in connection with an earlier report from the night before, when a man had been seen damaging cars with what appeared to be the same stick. Surveillance from that incident showed the same red-“Alpha” shirt and stick in the suspect’s possession.
Second Victim Found Nearby, Charges Pending
Just minutes from the first crime scene, a second victim—62 years old—was discovered on the 2100 block of Fredericksburg Road with injuries consistent with a beating and a large pool of blood near his head. While the suspect was found close to the second victim’s scene and matched the description and evidence collected, he has not yet been charged for this second attack. Police stated no other suspects are currently being sought.
Arrest, Charges and Community Response
The 19-year-old suspect is now held at the county jail with bail set at $500,000 for the murder of the 29-year-old man. Police credit the combination of rapid response, camera surveillance, and visible physical evidence—such as the bloody clothing and the wooden stick—to quickly resolving the case. Local residents say they are relieved that the suspect is off the streets, but remain shaken by the violence so close to home.
