It was a murder that shocked even those hardened to the realities of some of the city’s toughest neighborhoods.
Last Halloween night, Leticia Barrera was just a few feet from her home in Back of the Yards, her three young children dressed in costumes at her side, when shots rang out.
Barrera, who was celebrating her 32nd birthday, was struck fatally with a bullet to the head. Her children, ages 6, 4 and 2, were there as she fell. She was 2 1/2 months pregnant.
Police quickly knew that Barrera was not the intended target but another casualty of a war between gangs that could not keep peace even on a family-filled street on Halloween.
While many witnessed the shooting, few came forward because of fear of the gangs, police said.
But after months of work by detectives and police, with help from the community and churches, Chicago police announced a break in the case. Orlando Avila, 18, an alleged Latin Saint gang member, was charged Thursday with Barrera’s murder. Police are still looking for another suspect.
Supt. Jody Weis credited the work of the detectives and the help of surveillance cameras in the area, but he said the community’s assistance proved essential.
Armed with still photographs from the cameras, Detectives Luis Otero and Joaquin Mendoza went block by block in the neighborhood, working with residents to identify the witnesses to the crime. Eventually, those witnesses helped police to identify the suspects.
On Wednesday, detectives roused Avila from his bed to arrest him. Several witnesses positively identified him as involved in the shooting, said Chief of Detectives Thomas Byrne.
Avila of the 4500 block of South Wolcott Avenue is expected to appear in bond court Friday.
Speaking through a translator, Manuel Flores thanked police, saying he was happy that his wife’s alleged killer has been arrested. He expressed faith in the judicial system to decide his fate. Since the murder, Flores has not gone back to work as a roofer, instead saying he has had to become both mother and father to his three children. “Right now, they’re doing OK,” said Flores, adding that the children have had counseling.
A tough road
The slaying of Leticia Barrera stunned the community, prompting public rallies and even a plea from Mayor Daley for the public’s help in identifying the woman’s killers.
Barrera used to stop by Santa Maria Foods almost daily with her children to buy them nachos and other snacks. The randomness of her killing haunted the neighborhood, said Olga Calderon, the owner of a corner store in the 4800 block of South Seeley.
“There were other shooting deaths on this block before,” she said. “This is the first time it was someone who was accidentally involved.”
Calderon said many people saw the shooting, but the community was afraid to come forward with information initially because they feared retaliation.
