It is shaping up to be a violent weekend in Chicago. Several homicides and shootings have been keeping Violent Crime investigators quite busy. Special attention is being given to the City's West Side, especially in the Harrison and Marquette areas, where a gang war seems to be brewing.
On Thursday, there were two homicides. A 44-year-old male was found shot to death outside of 1236 South Karlov Avenue in the 10th Police District on the City's West Side. Police believe that the victim was dealing in the drugs. Later, a 37-year-old male was found beaten to death outside of 2210 West Warren Blvd in the 13th Police District also on the West Side. The homicide appears to be the result of a robbery.
On Friday morning, at about 0245 CST, the still-smoldering body of a 25-year-old male was found in the alley behind 1331 South Kedvale Avenue in the 10th Police District on Chicago's West Side. The victim was reported to be bound with wire, beaten about the head and set on fire.
Another man, this one said to be 43-years-old, was found burning less than two hours later after the above homicide at 2857 West Taylor Street in the 11th Police District on Chicago's West Side. The victim was transported to Cook County Hospital in critical condition with burns over 80 percent of his body. This victim died less than 24 hours later. Police said that they had no suspects in custody.
At about 1200 CST on Friday, there was a shooting across the street from a bus station at 565 West Harrsion Street in the 1st Police District near Chicago's Loop. Witnesses said that a man shot two unarmed security guards. The two security guards were in a hot dog stand when one of the victims became involved in an altercation with two patrons. One of the patrons pulled out a gun and shot both guards. One of the guards was killed and the other suffered a serious gunshot wound to the arm.
In other homicides from the past few days -- A man was found shot several times at 815 North Ridgeway Avenue in the 11th Police District. Police say that this shooting was gang-related. In the 10th Police District, a 20-year-old male was shot to death at 1836 South Karlov Avenue. This homicide also appears to be gang-related.
On Saturday morning, a long-time worker for the City of Chicago Streets and Sanitation Department was shot and killed during an apparent carjacking. The 58-year-old victim's body was found in an alley in the 1800 block of West Cornelia Avenue in the 19th Police District on the North Side. Belmont area investigators were questioning two suspects on Saturday.
And finally, the 128th Chicago area bank robbery of the year took place on Saturday morning at about 0940 CST at the Household Bank located at 5960 West Irving Park Road in the 16th Police District on the City's Northwest Side. A man told a bank teller that he had a gun and fled with about $2,000 in cash.
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