The Chicago Tribune reported on the shooting death of 35-year-old former Marine and father Alexander Lopez. He was shot once and died at the scene while sitting in the passenger seat of a Ford Excursion while his friend Steve Paliatsos, the driver, was shot multiple times and is in critical condition. The highway shooting occurred after a birthday outing.
Police were looking for a newer model silver Chevrolet Trail Blazer but no suspects have been named. A friend who was in the backseat but left uninjured was questioned by State Police Trooper Claire Pfotenhauer:
"We have received a lot of information through him."
But as of now, authorities are keeping quiet about the details as they search for the suspect. Police also are looking for surveillance video from the vicinity of the Spy Bar, where the men had left before the incident.
Chicago police responded to a fight at the River North bar about one hour before the shooting but didn't go into detail. However, one of Alexander Lopez's relatives told reporters that one of the friends who met the men at the bar had tried to stop a man who was allegedly hitting a woman.
The fight was taken outside the bar, according to state police, but may have been the catalyst for the shooting.
The Trail Blazer authorities believe is the suspect's vehicle reportedly pulled up alongside the Excursion SUV and someone opened fire. One of the two surviving men called 911 after Steve Paliatsos was able to pull the SUV off the road.
Nancy Zambrano, Alexander Lopez's ex-wife told reporters that her ex-husband had gone to a White Sox game with friends and then went out to celebrate a friend's birthday. She described him as a wonderful father to his 10-year-old daughter.
Alexander Lopez's sister was devastated by the loss of her brother:
"My brother's dead. He's gone. And for no reason, no reason at all."
Related Resources:
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Murder: Second Degree (FindLaw)
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One Dead in Stevenson Expressway Shooting That Spilled Out of Bar Fight (Chicago Sun-Times)
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Find a Chicago Criminal Attorney (FindLaw)
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