Cops Hunt Killers in McKinley Park Homicides

A string of on-the-street homicides this spring and summer in Chicago’s McKinley Park neighborhood has the Chicago police, including officers from the 9th District, seeking and apprehending suspects.

Most recently, the Chicago Police Department has released surveillance video of suspects sought in the April 8, 2022, slaying of Ryan Arliksas, a neighborhood resident slain steps from his front door in the 2000 block of West 35th Street.

As previously reported here in the McKinley Park News, Arliksas was on his way home from a nearby friend’s home in the McKinley Park neighborhood when he was gunned down, with three suspects fleeing northeast down the alley where South Seeley Avenue meets 35th Street.

Video surveillance footage released by the Chicago Police Department depicts three young people entering a convenience store and a CTA bus. They are being sought for questioning in the murder of Arliksas.

“Connected” Homicides

Screen captures from surveillance video depict the first suspect sought by Chicago Police in the April 8, 2022, homicide of Ryan Arliksas.Still unresolved are a pair of homicides days apart and taking part on the same McKinley Park neighborhood block: the Saturday, June 25, 2022, slaying of 30-year-old Marcos Diaz, and the homicide of 39-year-old Vincent Hernandez on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Both were killed by gunfire in the 2100 block of West 36th Street.

Chicago Police Department community policing Officer Jim McAndrew said the two homicides were “connected” at the July 13, 2022, meeting for Beat 912 of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) program.

The two homicides were also “domestic-related,” he said.

“We Need Answers”

Bernadette Hernandez, the brother of Vincent Hernandez, said her family is still waiting for forward movement on the case from Chicago police.

“We need answers, justice and a way to hopefully prevent more families from going through the pain we are experiencing,” she said.

Screen captures from surveillance video depict the second suspect sought by Chicago Police in the April 8, 2022, homicide of Ryan Arliksas.When her brother was slain, he was visiting the Diaz residence, Hernandez said. “He was there for the Diaz family and the individuals he has known for years.”

Four Illegal Guns

“Both cases are still not solved, nor has anyone been taking into custody, nor are there any suspects,” Hernandez said. “That means … two different individuals in that area are free to do it again.”

McAndrew noted the spike in neighborhood gun-related arrests following the two slayings. “There was a high alert put out on this area,” he said, resulting in four illegal guns taken off the street.

The Chicago Police Department was limited in the amount of information it could share about active investigations, McAndrew said.

Arrest in Neighborhood Slaying

Chicago police arrested Sebastian Aguilar on first-degree-murder charges related to the homicide of 39-year-old Mario Leyva on June 30, 2022, in an alley off the 3300 block of South Western Avenue.

McKinley Park neighborhood resident Leyva was walking his dog when 37-year-old Aguilar, also a neighborhood resident, allegedly shot him after driving by in the alley, prosecutors charged.

Screen captures from surveillance video depict the third suspect sought by Chicago Police in the April 8, 2022, homicide of Ryan Arliksas.The August 11, 2022, WTTW News story “No Bail for Man Charged in Fatal Shooting of Man Walking Dog in McKinley Park Alley” by Matt Masterson details the incident and prosecutors’ charges against Aguilar, including how surveillance video captured evidence of the crime.

Chicago Police arrested Aguilar on August 9, 2022, in the 2400 block of South Christiana Avenue.

More Homicides than 2021

Analysis of crime reports for Chicago’s McKinley Park Community Area and Central Manufacturing District show more homicides thus far in 2022 than for all of 2021.

The homicides of Arliksas, Diaz, Hernandez and Leyva comprise all reported 2022 homicides for McKinley Park so far this year. For all of 2021, crime reports tallied three homicides.

“Seems like … crime is increasing in that area,” Hernandez said. “It could easily be prevented if more people came together. The ongoing violence is a community issue.”

Police asked that anyone with any information on the homicides contact Area One detectives by calling (312) 747-8380 or use the www.CPDTIP.com website to submit a tip anonymously.