Man Detained After Barroom Brawl Shooting on Southwest Side
A man has been detained by a Cook County judge after allegedly opening fire during a barroom brawl on the Southwest Side, injuring two men. Despite this, he is not charged with shooting anyone in the incident.
33-year-old Cruz Ortega is facing charges of aggravated possession of a weapon and unlawful use of a weapon in a prohibited place in connection with the September 19 shooting at Mario and Sandra’s Bar & Grill on 3620 South California Avenue. Prosecutors have described the bar as a members-only club.
According to prosecutors, Ortega and another 33-year-old man were involved in a fight at the bar around 10:39 p.m. The altercation began when the victim stood up from his stool and started showing off his tattoos and a ring. This escalated into a physical confrontation between the two men, with other patrons trying to intervene.
During the fight, Ortega pulled out a handgun from his pocket and shot the man he was fighting with three times in the chest. Another man nearby was also hit by gunfire in the hip and lower back as the altercation continued.
The first victim managed to disarm Ortega, causing the gun’s magazine to fall to the ground. With the help of other patrons, the situation was brought under control. The first victim then retrieved his own firearm and fired at Ortega as the struggle ensued. Ortega eventually fled the bar, with the original victim firing more shots at him.
Police later found two firearms in a trash can on the bar’s back patio, with surveillance video showing a woman disposing of the guns. Ortega later called 911 to report that he had been shot, but investigators linked him to the bar shooting based on witness descriptions and evidence.
Judge Shauna Boliker granted the state’s detention petition for Ortega, who is currently facing charges related to the possession and use of a weapon in the barroom incident.
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