Chicago man charged with double murder in Gage Park attacks
Chicago man charged with double murder in Gage Park attacks
A man was charged in a series of attacks in Gage Park on Sunday night that left two people dead and another hospitalized.
CHICAGO - A man was charged in a series of attacks in Gage Park on Sunday night that left two people dead and another hospitalized.
Gage Park deadly attacks
The backstory:
Just before 10 p.m., Robert Romo allegedly stabbed a 64-year-old woman to death and fatally shot a 63-year-old man inside an apartment in the 5300 block of South Kedzie Avenue, according to police.
Minutes later, Romo, armed with a gun and a knife, approached a 37-year-old man who was outside the Just One More Sports Bar in the same block.
Romo, 57, followed the man inside, made his way to the back of the bar and stabbed a 44-year-old woman. She was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where she was listed in good condition.
Romo was taken into custody shortly after the stabbing and police recovered a gun from the scene. He was charged with several felonies:
- Two felony counts of first-degree murder
- One count of attempted first-degree murder
- One count of aggravated battery/use of deadly weapon
- One count of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon
Romo, who lives in the Clearing neighborhood, has a detention hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
Victims identified
The backstory:
The two people who were killed were identified as Richard M. Romo and Rita Chavez. One neighbor told FOX 32 he knew the husband and wife well, describing them as kind and generous people.
Police have not detailed the relationship between Robert Romo and the two victims.
Witnesses recall moments of violent rampage in Chicago's Gage Park
A knife-wielding man attacked a woman at a bar just minutes after two people were killed on the same Southwest Side block on Sunday night.
Witness describes attacks
The backstory:
Witnesses said the suspect went on a rampage.
"I was hoping for him not to come to me and shoot me. The only thing I thought of is running out the door," one person said.
Ald. Jeylu Gutierrez (14th Ward) released a statement reacting to the violent attacks.
"I am deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred in our community last night," she said, in part. "My thoughts and prayers are with the families impacted, and with all those who are feeling the weight of this violence. These moments remind us of the urgent need to come together to grieve, to support one another, and to recommit ourselves to building a safer, more peaceful Gage Park."
The Source: The information in this report came from the Chicago Police Department and previous