A third person has been charged in connection with a shooting that injured five people inside a Back of the Yards liquor store on March 14. Chicago police recently arrested 20-year-old Alonso Molina after he was involved in a traffic accident, and officers dispatched to file a crash report determined he was wanted for attempted murder, according to CPD documents.
He joins 21-year-old Angeles Flores and 24-year-old Luis Vargas as defendants accused of firing shots inside Goldmore Liquors, 1949 West 51st Street.
At approximately 8:22 p.m., the store manager saw seven individuals enter and surround three customers playing gambling machines, officials said. The trouble allegedly began when Vargas verbally assaulted one of the victims, lifted his shirt to flash a firearm in his waistband, and ordered the man to step outside to fight.
The argument escalated when one of the victims also raised his shirt to reveal a gun in his waistband, prosecutors said.
At that point, the manager directed customers and staff to a back room and called 911 while heading back himself. While he was on the phone with a 911 call-taker, members of both groups were seen passing firearms among themselves, prosecutors said.
Flores allegedly fired multiple rounds at the victims and the surrounding area. Molina was also seen on video firing shots at victims, prosecutors claimed. One of the victims returned fire, striking Flores in the heel, pelvis, and hip.
As the group of seven fled, additional shots were fired, with someone shooting through the store’s side window, shattering glass and hitting merchandise on display shelves.
Detectives reviewing surveillance footage recognized Vargas on the video, making hand gestures insulting the Gangster Disciples street gang. The video also showed one of the victims displaying hand signs representing the gang, according to a CPD report.
The manager told police that members of the two groups, including Vargas, had previously argued in the store but had never displayed weapons or made death threats.
Judge Antara Rivera detained Molina, describing his actions as “calculated” and noting that “gang affiliations were made known.” Flores and Vargas have also been detained pending trial.
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