For more than 50 years, Susie Irvin held court regularly on the porch of her South Side brick bungalow, chatting with a steady flow of neighbors while keeping close tabs on her block’s news of the day.
“I called her the `Chicago Defender’ because she was the best source of news out there,” said Catherine Heard, for 27 years Irvin’s neighbor in the 7100 block of South Michigan Avenue. “Now that’s all gone.”
On Saturday, authorities said, Irvin’s body was discovered in her home with a gunshot wound to the head–one of at least three people slain around the city over the weekend. Police believe the 84-year-old may have been the victim of a robbery attempt.
Though it was not immediately clear if any property was taken, indications were that the house had been broken into, said Calumet Area Sgt. William Dunn.
Police said no suspects in the case were in custody Sunday.
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Irvin, whose husband died more than 20 years ago, had lived with a sister, family members said. Irvin’s red metal chair sat unused Sunday afternoon on her front porch as family and friends collected at points around the city to mourn her death.
“It seems unbelievable this would happen to such a radiant, wonderful person,” said Irvin’s cousin Minerva Bell, as she stood in the hallway of the West Point Baptist Church. “She had no children of her own, but she was like a mother to all the nieces and nephews.”
In another case, a 22-year-old Chicago man faces murder and sexual-assault charges in connection with the Friday strangling of his 19-year-old girlfriend in her West Side home, police said.
Eric Delvalle of the 3300 block of West Crystal Street was charged Sunday with first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault and robbery in connection with the death of Alicia Petti of the 100 block of North Lotus Avenue, Cook County state’s attorney spokeswoman Marcy O’Boyle said.
Grand Central Area Sgt. Ed Mingey said Petti’s brother found his sister dead in her bed early Friday after overhearing Petti and Delvalle arguing.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office classified the death as a homicide Saturday after an autopsy showed Petti had been strangled.
Meanwhile, Grand Central Area police continued to investigate the shooting early Sunday of a 29-year-old West Town man, said Sgt. Peter Arapia.
Joseu Garcia of the 1000 block of North Hermitage Avenue was shot in the upper chest and thigh about 3:30 a.m. Sunday while standing on the sidewalk in the 3000 block of West Armitage Avenue.
Police believe the shooting was gang-related and said the victim and others were exchanging gang signals with occupants in a passing car before the gunshots occurred, Arapia said.
The attackers fled after shooting the man, police said.
Garcia was pronounced dead at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital early Sunday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.