Chicago man accused of wounding girlfriend, fatally shooting her stepfather during his birthday party
07/27/2022 12:23 pm PDT
CHICAGO (TCD) -- A 28-year-old man was arrested after allegedly wounding the mother of his young child and killing her stepfather after taking drugs and consuming alcohol during the stepfather’s birthday party.
According to a news release from the Chicago Police Department, on Sunday, July 24, officers responded to a home to a report of a shooting. At the scene, authorities reportedly found a deceased 37-year-old male victim suffering from a gunshot wound along with an injured 25-year-old female.
The suspect, Jorge Espana, allegedly lived in the attic of the home with the victim, later identified as Espana’s girlfriend, along with their young son, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The night of the incident, Espana’s girlfriend and their son reportedly went to bed while others were drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana outside during the birthday party. Espana allegedly got into a fight with his girlfriend’s brother.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Espana’s girlfriend, her mother, and her stepfather, Huberto Rosales, eventually joined him in the backyard and got into the middle of the fight. Espana allegedly said he was "going inside to get his gun to shoot" his girlfriend’s brother.
His girlfriend and sister reportedly followed Espana and tried to stop him, and they locked a door so he couldn’t get downstairs. Espana heard a noise coming from the other side and fired a shot, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The bullet reportedly grazed his girlfriend in the armpit and struck Rosales in the head, killing him. The brother hid in the closet during the incident, and the girlfriend was reportedly transported to the hospital. Both Espana and his sister fled the scene, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
During a court hearing on Tuesday, July 26, Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel Hanichak alleged that Espana was drinking with his sister and ingested a "mushroom pill" and part of a cannabis-infused candy bar during the party.
Espana was eventually arrested and booked into Cook County without bond on July 26, records show. Police said he was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery/discharge firearm, and murder –– strong probability death/injure. He is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 15.
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