A man previously sentenced to a substantial term in prison for attempted murder is currently facing serious first-degree murder charges related to a homicide that occurred in July 2023 in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.
Authorities allege that 40-year-old Max Hernandez acted as the getaway driver for two assailants who fatally shot 24-year-old Leonardo Martinez on July 4, 2023, critically injuring his brother, aged 25. Hernandez was recently apprehended at the Pinckneyville Correctional Center, where he was serving parole for another gun-related offense that was filed shortly after the Fourth of July incident.
In January 2023, prosecution charges were filed against 29-year-old Luis Vela, identified as one of the gunmen involved in the shooting of Martinez. Cook County prosecutors have stated that evidence tying both Hernandez and Vela to the crime includes cellphone location data, surveillance footage, and DNA evidence collected from inside the vehicle used for the getaway.
Tim Hecke serves as the managing partner of CWBChicago. He began his career at KMOX, the iconic news radio station in St. Louis, before advancing to roles in radio stations across Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York City. He subsequently developed syndicated radio news services that catered to all of America’s 100 largest radio markets. In 2019, he took on the role of managing partner at CWBChicago.
For inquiries, you can reach him at tim@cwbchicago.com.
