Crime News Update

Editor's note: The crime news reported by the Southwest Chicago Post---taken directly from Chicago Police Department incident reports---is not by any means an exhaustive catalogue of all crime reported in the Chicago Lawn (8th) District. For example, it typically does not include news of crimes committed in the eastern and southern sectors of the district---because the Southwest Chicago Post's coverage area is primarily the neighborhoods that border Midway Airport and secondarily because including the relatively large volume of crime news from elsewhere in the district would be a logistical challenge. We make this note to offer a little helpful perspective and remind everyone that while crime is definitely a concern in all parts of the district (as it always has been), crime remains relatively low overall in Sector 1. May all of us work together diligently to keep it that way. May all of us also remember that a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Burbank man shot, killed in West Lawn chase
A 24-year-old Burbank man said by police to be a gang member was shot in the chest and

Hani Yousef

killed during an exchange of gunfire in the West Lawn neighborhood at 9:55 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31. Hani Yousef, of the 8200 block of South Luna, was transported via CFD ambulance to Holy Cross Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:19 p.m. Witnesses told police that Yousef was a passenger in a black Honda Accord that was chasing back and forth with a red SUV at and around 65th and Karlov. As the Accord sped east on Marquette Road, it crashed into a car driven by an 88-year-old West Lawn woman, and then crashed into the house at 4021 W. Marquette. Another passenger in the car, a 23-year-old Scottsdale man—also said by police to be a gang member—suffered a bullet graze wound to his neck, was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center, treated and released. The driver of the Accord—wearing a bloodied white tank top--bolted and remains at large, police said. The police report did not say whether the 88-year-old woman was injured. Yousef was remembered at a prayer service on Friday at the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beats 815 or 821 (see map), come to St. Bruno School (south entrance) at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 7 and attend your monthly CAPS meeting. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.

Archer Heights man shot, killed in alley

A 32-year-old Archer Heights man was shot and killed as he walked in an alley behind 4830 S. Kildare at 12:10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 4. Juan A. Pita-Rosas was shot in the face, transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital by CFD ambulance and pronounced dead at 1:05 a.m., police said. A second victim, a 22-year-old Archer Heights man, was shot in the chest and right arm. He was brought to Holy Cross Hospital and later transferred to Mt. Sinai, where he told police that he was at a party on the block when he saw Pita-Rosas hit as he walked from the alley into an open garage. Witnesses described the gunman only as a Hispanic man with short hair, wearing a red shirt.

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Orange Line rider robbed on 59th Street

A 24-year-old West Lawn woman was robbed of her cell phone as she walked down a sidewalk in the 4700 block of West 59th Street at 12:45 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3. The victim told police she had just gotten off a CTA Orange Line train when she was approached by a man who asked if she had a cigarette lighter. When she ignored his question, he slapped her cell phone out of her hand, picked it up and ran to a wooded area near 60th and Kilpatrick. The victim then ran home and called police. The offender was described as a black man age 18-20, 5-foot-5 and 125 pounds, with a light complexion and brown hair in dreadlocks, wearing a black shirt and blue jeans.

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Burglars hit restaurant on Archer

Burglars kicked in the glass front door of El Kaporal restaurant, 5078 S. Archer, and stole a cash register, a TV, a Roku streaming video player and about $100 cash. The crime was discovered by an employee, a 45-year-old man, when he came to work at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 2.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 814 (see map), come to Vittum Park at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 8 and attend your monthly CAPS meeting. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.


Camera swiped in Clearing burglary
Burglars broke through the side window of an apartment near 65th and Central and stole a camera. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 33-year-old woman, at 12:16 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3.

Garage may have been unlocked, burglary victim says
Burglars entered a garage near 48th and Kolin and stole four car rims, two car tires, a saw, two grinders, a tool pack and a tool pouch. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 33-year-old man, at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3. There was no sign of forced entry, and the victim said he may have left the garage door unlocked.

Passport, credit cards taken from garage

Burglars broke into a garage near 55th and Kolmar, entered a vehicle parked inside and stole two credit cards and a passport. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 39-year-old man, at 6 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3.

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