Crime & Safety
Gang-Related Shooting Leads to Car Accident, Chase
After shots were exchanged in Stone Park between rival gang members, a car chase ended in River Forest.
Rival gang members exchanged shots in Stone Park last week, leading to a car chase and accident in River Forest, police said.
At 4:18 a.m. April 7, police responded to a call about a hit-and-run accident in the 7500 block of North Avenue. One car lost control and hit several trees and poles, while the second car fled eastbound.
Police said four people fled from the car. One occupant, John Benitez, 18, of the 1600 block of N. 43rd Ave. in Stone Park, was located and taken to the hospital for injuries.
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A loaded handgun and shell casings from another gun were found in the damaged vehicle. Police said further investigation revealed the incident to be gang-related.
After the shots were fired in Stone Park, the two groups chased eachother eastbound on North Avenue. The driver of the damaged car, Ivan Marchan, 19, of the 1400 block of N. Morris Avenue in Berkeley, turned himself into River Forest police several hours later.
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Benitez was charged with unlawful use of a weapon and having no valid FOID card. Marchan was charged with several traffic violations and leaving the scene of an accident in addition to unlawful use of a weapon and no valid FOID card.
Stone Park police are conducting their own investigation.
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