Authorities in Chicago are actively investigating the death of Alexander Kazanowski, a 25-year-old resident of Avondale. Kazanowski passed away several days after being discovered severely beaten at a street corner in the Northwest Side neighborhood.
Kazanowski was found unconscious and facedown at the intersection of Belmont and Harding at approximately 3:15 a.m. on March 24. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has classified his death as a homicide due to head injuries sustained during an assault.
Sources familiar with the investigation have indicated to CWB Chicago that Kazanowski might have been returning home after a dispute at a nearby bar. It is suspected that the individuals involved in the altercation followed him from the bar.
The Chicago Fire Department transported Kazanowski to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries on Saturday afternoon. He leaves behind his partner, Tori, his daughter, Thea, and an unborn son, John, as noted in his obituary.
The obituary describes Kazanowski as a man who forged his path through hard work, engaging in various activities from landscaping to tutoring to achieve his goals. Known as Xander, he was noted for his strong Christian faith and steadfast convictions.
“Xander lived life at full speed and with a rare intensity,” the obituary remembers. “While his time with us was cut far too short, he lived more in his twenty-five years than many do in a lifetime.”
In 2023, Kazanowski co-owned an antique shop in Rogers Park. His personal Facebook comments, perceived as transphobic by some, led to protests. However, other residents defended his right to free speech.
The antique store, Boho Barbie Ken, experienced a decline in its Google rating from 4.8 due to a surge of one-star reviews amid the protests. However, it managed to recover to a 4.9 rating prior to closing.
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