Across Chicago, the New Year was rung in with gunfire.
Of the four killed over Friday night and Saturday morning, three were shot to death.
The fourth victim, Arvell Singletary, 31, of Wisconsin, was stabbed in the back early Saturday while visiting family in the Robert Taylor Homes CHA complex, said Wentworth Area Detective Michael Pochordo. Singletary’s 13-year-old niece was charged with murder in a juvenile petition, Pochordo said.
About 3 a.m. on the near West Side, a car pulled up alongside Francisco Matchain, 23, of the 2100 block of West Cullerton Avenue, as he stood in the 1900 block of South Leavitt Street. The occupants asked Matchain if he was a gang member and then shot him to death, said Harrison Area Sgt. John Chojnacki.
Police said that about the same time, Miguel Carrera, 20, of West 19th Street, died of gunshot wounds. Police said they had no details and no suspects. Carrera’s body was found in the 1800 block of South Throop Street, Chojnacki said.
Earlier, on Friday, two unidentified men left Larry Wright, 18, of the 400 block of South Taylor Street, Oak Park, in the Cook County Hospital emergency room, authorities said. Almost 12 hours later, he died of a gunshot wound to the head, a nursing supervisor said.
This year, unlike the last several years, the ritual of firing guns to mark the new year did not appear to cause deaths. But it did leave one young man in critical condition and a teenage girl in intensive care Saturday.
George Urukalo, 18, was injured when he was hit in the head by a stray bullet at 11:56 p.m. Friday, police said. A bullet apparently ricocheted through the dining room of his home on the 1600 block of West Ohio Street, Chojnacki said.
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Urukalo was listed in serious but stable condition at Cook County Hospital Saturday.
Katrina Harris, 13, of the 7000 block of South Merrill Avenue, was sitting in the back room of her home early Saturday when a stray bullet hit her in the chest, Grand Crossing District police said.
Harris was taken to Wyler Children’s Hospital, where she was listed in stable condition.
On the Northwest Side, a Wood Dale teenager was shot in the head Friday night during a quarrel with the host of a party in the 6200 block of West Barry Avenue, said Grand Central Area Sgt. Robert Biebel.
Julie Snook, 16, was listed in critical condition at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Jerzy Smyslowski, 19, was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, Biebel said.