(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – A 32-year-old parolee has been charged in the triple killing at a Northwest Side bar over the weekend.
Samuel Parsons-Salas of Chicago faces three charges of first-degree murder; one charge of attempted murder and one count of kidnapping, police announced Tuesday.
Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said Parsons-Salas had been released early from prison in September and had been serving time for a home invasion.
The shooting occurred around 2:30 a.m. Sunday during a birthday party at the Vera Lounge on the 5500 block of West School Street in Portage Park. Police said Samuel Parsons-Salas ran for it as SWAT officers tried to arrest him, but he was quickly caught.
50-year-old Ricky Vera, 26-year-old Mario Pozuelos, and 24-year-old Mercedes Tavares, were all killed. Mariah Vera, 24, was shot and critically wounded.
Police Supt. David Brown said Parsons-Salas is a danger to the community.
"Whatever process goes forward bond court, etc, etc. Throw away the key. Get this person off our streets. Don’t release him on electronic monitoring," Brown said.
A video shared with the Sun-Times indicates that as the 25-year old daughter of one of the murder victims cried over him as he lay bleeding Sunday, Parsons-Salas allegedly walked up to her and shot her in the head.
According to the Illinois Department of Corrections website, among Parsons-Salas’ tattoos is one that says Grim Reaper.
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