A Cicero man, Ruben Vargas, has been charged in connection with a shooting that took place near Wicker Park in April. The incident left a 37-year-old man hospitalized for over three weeks. Vargas, 19, is currently in custody following an order from Judge Luciano Panici, Jr.
The shooting occurred in the early hours of April 19 in the 1400 block of West Division Street. According to prosecutors, the victim was driving near a gas station when he encountered a group of young males dressed in black, along with an older man. The victim believed that the group was looking for trouble, with one of the individuals appearing to have a gun tucked in his waistband.
Feeling threatened, the victim drove away but later stopped to pick up an acquaintance, fearing that the group might target them as well. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Vargas pulling out a firearm and firing at the victim’s vehicle. The victim, who was shot in the neck and collarbone area, lost control of the car and crashed into a Shell gas station.
The victim was rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he underwent treatment for his injuries. He remained hospitalized for nearly a month following the shooting. Additional surveillance videos captured Vargas walking with the group, including the older man, both before and after the incident.
Upon his recent arrest, Vargas allegedly admitted to being in the area that night but denied any involvement in the shooting. The older man associated with the group has also been apprehended, although he has not been charged in connection with the shooting. It was revealed that the older man is a convicted felon who was previously arrested for firing a gun on Division Street four years ago, receiving a seven-year prison sentence.
This detailed account of the incident sheds light on the events leading up to the shooting and the subsequent actions taken by law enforcement. The thorough investigation and surveillance footage play a crucial role in piecing together the events of that fateful night.
