CHICAGO — Prosecutors say a Venezuelan migrant who shot another migrant outside one of Chicago’s temporary shelters had argued and fought with the victim hours earlier.
That’s one of the details that emerged as prosecutors explained why they believed Cleber Fernandez, 26, should be detained to await trial. After hearing the allegations, Judge Barabara Dawkins granted the detention petition on Sunday afternoon.
Fernandez and the 25-year-old victim both live at the Wadsworth shelter, 6420 South University, in Woodlawn, according to a Chicago police report.
They argued and became “embroiled in a physical altercation” on Friday morning, prosecutors said. Later, around 7:39 p.m., they crossed paths again inside a park near the shelter.
They argued again. This time, though, Fernandez pulled out a pistol and fired two shots, striking the victim once in the abdomen, Dawkins was told.
The critically injured victim fell to the ground, and Fernandez ran from the scene.
Chicago police officers in the area heard the gunshots, as did a ShotSpotter gunfire detection device, which directed cops to a specific location where two shell casings were found.
Witnesses provided descriptions of the shooter, and cops spotted Fernandez in the area shortly after 8 p.m. He stripped off his blue sweater and ran away, prosecutors said. The police caught up to him and placed him in custody after a witness confirmed he was the shooter.
Prosecutors said the victim identified Fernandez in a photo line-up, too. Police never found a gun. Tests for gunshot residue on Fernandez’s hands are still pending.
He is charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm.
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