Hector Leonardo Gutierrez, a man who reportedly resides under viaducts in the city and suburbs, has been charged by federal prosecutors for threatening to kill a man through a series of Facebook accounts. The 31-year-old is facing charges for transmitting threats to injure another person through interstate commerce, with the FBI agent noting that the threats were visible on a computer in California.
According to court documents, Gutierrez and the alleged victim have a history together, as Gutierrez lived with the victim during high school and even helped care for the victim’s mother. However, tensions arose when Gutierrez moved in above the victim’s barbershop in 2020 and was subsequently evicted for theft and causing disturbances. The victim suspected Gutierrez of being behind various incidents of graffiti, broken windows, and burglaries that followed.
Gutierrez operated four Facebook accounts under aliases such as Pablo Picazo and Samuel Adams, as well as using variations of his real name. The accounts featured images of Gutierrez wearing distinctive attire, including a cape, wire crown, and a crucifix made from copper pipe. Posts from these accounts included threats towards the victim, with one message stating intentions to “chop you into one hundred pieces while you’re alive.”
Further threats included claims of being able to kill the victim with bare hands or a firearm, with Gutierrez allegedly stating that he spared the victim for his mother’s sake. Disturbing posts mentioned plans to execute the victim and celebrate the act like a holiday, with references to feeding the victim’s remains to carnivores at Brookfield Zoo.
Authorities were able to link Gutierrez to the Facebook accounts through content that aligned with verifiable events in his life, such as a recent arrest for criminal damage to property in Oak Lawn. Gutierrez’s online posts also hinted at his living situation under bridges in Chicago, with police eventually locating him at a bridge at 115th and Cicero.
Records show that Gutierrez has a history of arrests, including incidents of assault at the Jackson Blue Line station and possessing a fake firearm at Pritzker Park in the Loop. The case against Gutierrez highlights the intersection of social media threats and real-world actions, underscoring the importance of monitoring online behavior for potential harm.
This detailed account of Gutierrez’s alleged threats and criminal activities sheds light on the dangers posed by online harassment and the need for swift intervention to prevent violence. It serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of modern-day law enforcement and the challenges of addressing threats made through digital platforms.
