The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed that the first homicide victim of the new year in Chicago was 51-year-old Marcos Aleida, who was found shot inside a South Shore apartment on Saturday morning. Aleida was discovered face down in a bed in the 6700 block of South Jeffery Avenue with gunshot wounds to the head, chest, and back. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and no further details have been released by the Chicago Police Department.
This marks the first murder of the year in Chicago, breaking a streak of two years where the city started the new year without any homicides until later in January. Since 2001, Chicago has seen its first murder of the year on January 1 a total of 17 times, with January 2 and January 3 also being common dates for the first homicide. In 2024, the earliest new year murder was reported just 56 minutes into the year, setting a grim record for the city.
CWBChicago, a local news outlet dedicated to providing accurate and detailed public safety reporting, covered the story of Marcos Aleida’s tragic death. The platform was created in 2013 by residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who were dissatisfied with the inaccurate information provided at local Community Policing meetings. Since then, CWBChicago has expanded its coverage area to include neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown, and other North Side areas, all while maintaining its commitment to delivering original reporting with in-depth context.
For more exclusive and original reporting on public safety issues in Chicago, readers can support the work of CWBChicago. The platform’s editorial email address is news@cwbchicago.com, allowing readers to stay informed on the latest developments in their communities.

