Residents in Pilsen say the neighborhood early Sunday “was like a war zone.”
A party was going on in an alley in the 1900 block of West 17th Street when a person approached and began arguing with two men at the party.
When the two men the person to leave, they “became unruly,” pulled out a gun and began shooting, sparking an exchange of gunfire among “several individuals,” according to a Chicago police report.
Over 50 bullet casings from at least four different guns were found, police said.
The two men from the party were shot and left in good condition at a hospital but a beloved man in the neighborhood known as “Pepe” was caught in the crossfire.
Pepe, believed to be homeless, was often seen wandering through the streets. Pepe was on one of his walks around 1:40 a.m when he was shot.
Several bullets hit hit Pepe, 46, in the neck and ankle and responding officers found him lying in the middle of the intersection of Wolcott and 17th, according to the report.
He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:29 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office and police. Pepe’s formal name was not being released pending notification of next of kin, the medical examiner’s office said.
Pepe was among at least eight killed and more than 50 wounded in gun violence during the long Labor Day weekend.
The men who argued with the assailant, 41 and 43, were each shot in their leg and taken to Mount Sinai in good condition, police said. The assailant fled the scene.
Police temporarily placed a man in custody who told officers he exchanged gunfire with someone at the time of the shooting. The man had a valid conceal and carry license and was later released without charges, police said.
Area 3 detectives were reviewing video footage of the shooting.
“He was one of the sweetest guys, he would never harm anyone,” said Gabriel, a man who often saw Pepe and was at his nearby home at the time of the shooting.
Gabriel, who declined to give his name out of safety concerns, said people in the neighborhood often fed Pepe and looked out for him, though he preferred to spend his time wandering alone.
Residents set up a memorial in honor of Pepe on the corner of Wolcott Avenue and 17th Street. On Tuesday morning, a photo of Pepe was propped up against a street pole surrounded by flowers and candles.
A Gofundme to help pay for his funeral expenses was closed after raising $9,000 for Pepe, a spokesperson said Tuesday.
“This part of the neighborhood is pretty calm, but now this makes you think twice about leaving your home,” said Gabriel. “There’s a lot of older people like my parents who like to sit outside. They should be able to do that and be safe.”
A woman who identified herself as Claudia, said she didn’t believe Pepe was homeless but wasn’t sure where he lived.
“He grew up here and I think he lived nearby,” she said. “I think he just liked to wander outside. He wasn’t a danger to anyone. It’s very sad.”