Bail was denied Saturday for a Hermosa father of two accused of opening fire on a group of people standing on the street near Humboldt Park last June, wounding four people, authorities said.
Jeramia L. Ortiz, 20, of the 2000 block of North Kilpatrick Avenue, was charged with four counts attempted murder for the 2017 shooting that left two men and two women injured. Judge Michael Clancy remanded Ortiz to custody, calling him a threat to the public.
According to prosecutors, witnesses saw Ortiz driving near North Homan Avenue and West Crystal Street—about two blocks west of the sprawling park—last June 18, when he passed a group of people standing on the street and shouted gang references to them.
About 10 minutes later, witnesses said Ortiz suddenly appeared on the street near the group and began shooting at them. Two 27-year-old women, and two men, ages 27 and 28, were all struck by gunfire, according to Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Lauren Maniatis. The most seriously injured was hit on the right side of his chest, though everyone survived, Maniatis said.
Police later recovered 13 separate 9mm shell casings and a .380-caliber casing from the scene, she added.
Since the shooting, at least one of the victims identified Ortiz as the gunman. Ortiz, whose street name is “Greeny,” according to Chicago police, was arrested Thursday afternoon with six bags of marijuana, authorities said.
If convicted, Ortiz, who also has a pending unlawful use of a weapon case, faces life in prison.
wlee@chicagotribune.com
Twitter: @MidNoirCowboy
