Eliza Roper / Photo from Chicago Police

A Calumet City woman has been charged with murder in Saturday stabbing of Cierra Moore at a Roseland gas station.

Moore, 27, was stabbed in the leg during a domestic fight at a gas station in the 10000 block of South Michigan Avenue about 2:35 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Emergency personnel found Moore unresponsive inside the vehicle about a block away, authorities said.

Moore, of the 3400 block of Hazel Lane in Hazel Crest, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she died at 11:33 p.m. Monday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

A Wednesday autopsy confirmed Moore died of a stab wound to the leg and the death was ruled a homicide.

On Friday, police said Eliza Roper stabbed Moore during a domestic fight at the gas station and Roper was charged with first-degree murder.

Roper, 23, of the 1300 block of South Freeland Avenue in Calumet City, is expected to appear in court Friday for a bond hearing.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Omar Dixon / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Omar Dixon was ordered held on $1.5 million bond Friday after prosecutors claimed he fatally shot Terrence Harris during a January drug deal in in the Ashburn neighborhood.

Harris, 24, went to the 8100 block of South Artesian Avenue Jan. 14 to sell cannabis to Dixon and his acquaintance, prosecutors said.

Harris went to the agreed upon location, entered a gangway and handed over a package of cannabis, prosecutors said.

Before paying for the drugs, Dixon pulled out a gun and said, "This is mine." When Harris reached for the gun, Dixon shot him in the chest area, prosecutors said.

After the shooting, Dixon's acquaintance ran to the front of the house and told a friend what happened, prosecutors said.

Terrence Harris, of the 9200 block of South Elizabeth Avenue, was declared dead minutes later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Dixon ran away after the shooting, but the person who drove Harris to the drug deal gave chase, prosecutors said.

The driver gave up the pursuit and called 911. After talking to detectives, the driver went home but soon saw Dixon "creeping out from between the houses," prosecutors said.

The driver exited the vehicle, and Dixon yelled, "It wasn't me," then ran away, prosecutors said.

Dixon's acquaintance voluntarily went to the police station and told detectives about the robbery and the shooting, prosecutors said. The driver confirmed Dixon's acquaintance did not match the description of the man he chased after the shooting.

Phone records indicate Dixon and his acquaintance texted numerous times about the drug deal and that Dixon later called the acquaintance after the murder, prosecutors said.

A warrant was issued for Dixon's arrest, and he was taken into custody Jan. 24 in a hotel in Madison, Wis., prosecutors said.

Dixon, 23, of the 3500 block of West 83rd Place, was charged with murder and armed robbery charges, police said. He was sentenced to four years in prison for residential burglary in 2008, according to court records.

On Friday, Judge Donald Panarese ordered Dixon held on $1.5 million bond.

-- Contributing: Rummana Hussain

Joshua Poe / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Joshua Poe was ordered held without bond Friday after prosecutors claimed he shot his "good friend" Curtis Lyons after smoking synthetic marijuana Wednesday morning in the Ashburn community.

Poe, 26, spent Wednesday morning smoking synthetic marijuana in the basement of his home in the 3100 block of West 84th Place, said Assistant State's Attorney Sarah Karr.

Lyons began to roll a blunt of regular marijuana when, "out of the blue," Poe grabbed a semi-automatic handgun from a nearby table and stood over his "good friend" Lyons and another man sitting on the couch, Karr said.

Poe began to waive the gun around and question the men about their loyalty, Karr said. When other people in the basement attempted to stop Poe, he shot Lyons in the face, prosecutors said.

Lyons, 20, of the 8000 block of South Richmond Street, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Poe then shot the other man, 19, in the leg, Karr said. After being shot, the man asked Poe to take him to the hospital, but Poe only helped him outside, prosecutors said.

Once outside, Poe tossed the gun into the snow and pushed the wounded man to the ground and fled, Karr said.

The man limped back inside and contacted a friend, who called the wounded man's mother, Karr said. The mother called 911, and emergency personnel took him to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for a broken femur.

Police recovered the gun outside the home and police arrested Poe hours later when friends who heard about the shooting became scared and turned him in to police, Karr said.

Poe was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm, police said. He was on parole for a stolen weapons conviction, authorities said.

On Friday, Judge Donald Panarese ordered Poe held without bond.

-- Contributing: Rummana Hussain

Eliza Roper / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Eliza Roper was ordered held on $400,000 bond Friday after prosecutors claimed she fatally stabbed her girlfriend during a domestic fight at a Roseland gas station.

On Saturday, Roper was driving in a vehicle with a man as Cierra Moore followed in another vehicle, prosecutors said.

Both vehicles pulled into a gas station in the 10000 block of South Michigan Avenue and Moore and the man got into an argument, prosecutors said.

Moore got back into her car, bumped into the back of Roper's vehicle and attempted to drive away as the man threw a garbage can at Moore's car, prosecutors said.

Moore was unable to drive between Roper's vehicle and the gas pump, and the man began hitting her, prosecutors said.

Video surveillance captured Roper pull out a knife as she walked towards Moore's vehicle, prosecutors said.

Moore drove away, but emergency crews found her about a block away with a stab wound to the leg, prosecutors said.

Moore, 27, of the 3400 block of Hazel Lane in Hazel Crest, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she died at 11:33 p.m. Monday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Roper later told her cousin about the attack, prosecutors said.

Roper, 23, of the 1300 block of South Freeland Avenue in Calumet City, was arrested Thursday and charged with first-degree murder, authorities said.

On Friday, Judge Donald Panarese ordered Roper held on $400,000 bond.

Kenneth Guise has died about a week after a shooting at a West Pullman party that also left Mayron Collier dead.

Guise, 38, and Collier, 24, were shot about 2:05 a.m. Jan. 29 in the 11900 block of South Yale Avenue, authorities said.

Collier, of the 10000 block of South Pulaski Road, was shot in the head died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Guise, of Kaukauna, Wis., died at 6:22 p.m. Thursday at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Christopher Cage / Photo from Chicago Police

Christopher Cage, 27, of the 300 block of West 109th Place, was initially charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder, authorities said.

Prosecutors claimed Cage shot Collier “execution-style” after an argument during a dice game during a party, according to the Chicago Tribune. Cage then fired more than 10 shots into the crowd at the party.

Cage was initially ordered held without bond on Jan. 31. He will be back in court Feb. 19, where the attempted murder charges could be upgraded now that Guise has died.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Steven Blanchard / Photo from Cook County Sheriff's office

BY BRIAN SLODYSKO
Chicago Sun-Times

A third man was charged Sunday in the December 2013 slaying of Leroy Griffin, who was beaten then shot in the head by rival gang members outside a Chatham gas station.

Steven Blanchard, 26, who was charged with first-degree murder, is accused of being the triggerman who killed Griffin. He was ordered held without bail during a brief appearance before Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil.

Blanchard was in an SUV with six other people on Dec. 21, 2013, when someone spotted Griffin, 19, and a friend outside a gas station near the 7900 block of South Lafayette Avenue, according to authorities.

The group spilled out of the SUV and started beating Griffin, Assistant State’s Attorney LaShunda Cooperwood said. Meanwhile, Blanchard chased after Griffin’s friend, who sprinted away from the gas station. Blanchard fired shots at the friend but headed back to the gas station when he didn’t hit him.

As Blanchard walked back to join his group, he saw Griffin running toward him, Cooperwood said. He took aim and fired a single shot, striking Griffin in the head.

Blanchard, of the 1500 block of East 72nd Street, then rejoined the group, which fled in the SUV, authorities said.

Griffin, of the 7500 block of South Langley Avenue, was pronounced dead a short time later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Lamont Jackson, 24, and Louis Smith, 25, also were charged with murder in Griffin’s death in December 2014.

Parts of the attack were captured by surveillance cameras, though the shooting itself was not, prosecutors said.

Blanchard confessed to shooting Griffin when he was questioned, prosecutors said.

Anthony Diaz / Submitted photo

BY ASHLEE REZIN
Sun-Times Media

A 13-year-old boy who was shot to death Sunday night in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood had sneaked out of his home with his sisters to confront someone over posts on Facebook, according to a family member.

Anthony Diaz and two of his sisters, ages 15 and 17, left their Northwest Side home about 10:35 p.m. Sunday to confront someone over Facebook posts, said Anthony’s stepfather, Ralph Otero, 47. He said the teens got jumped and somebody pulled out a gun.

Police said the boy was walking with a group in the 6000 block of West Grand Avenue when someone walked up and opened fire, striking him in the left side of his body. The bullet exited through his chest.

Otero and his wife were sleeping when they got a call from Anthony’s sister saying he had been shot.

“My 17-year-old called and said somebody had gotten shot. She said, ‘it’s Anthony, it’s Anthony. Anthony got shot,’” Otero said.

The shooting happened near the family’s home in the 2100 block of North McVicker Avenue.

“I saw him lying on the ground about a block away from our house,” Otero said.

The teen was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:26 p.m., authorities.

Otero, an evangelical preacher, said they moved to the neighborhood in November from the Hermosa neighborhood. Anthony was one of six siblings.

“We just moved there from a bad area because it’s supposed to be better, and this is what we got,” Otero said.

“He’s a good student, he’s not a gangbanger. He didn’t give us any headaches,” Otero said.

He said Anthony, who went to Burbank Elementary School, loved basketball and watched the Bulls game Sunday evening.

“This is unbelievable,” Otero said.

-- Contributing: Jordan Owen and George Slefo, Network Video Productions

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Two people were shot to death, and two others were fatally stabbed, last week in Chicago.

Two more people also died last week from violent injuries suffered earlier this year, authorities said.

The most recent slaying happened when 13-year-old Anthony Diaz was fatally shot in the 6000 block of West Grand Avenue in the Belmont Cragin community, authorities said. Family said Diaz and his sisters had left their home to confront someone over Facebook posts.

Diaz, 2100 block of North McVicker Avenue, died less than an hour later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

In the Roseland neighborhood, police found 48-year-old Janice Coleman stabbed to death inside a home in the 11300 block of South Parnell Avenue about noon Sunday, authorities said.

On Wednesday, 20-year-old Curtis Lyons was shot in the 3100 block of West 84th Place in the Ashburn community, authorities said.

Prosecutors said Lyons was part of a group hanging out in the basement of Joshua Poe's residence when Poe, who had been smoking synthetic marijuana earlier in the day, shot Lyons in the head.

Lyons, of the 8000 block of South Richmond Street, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office. Another man, 19, was also wounded.

Poe was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm, police said. He was ordered held without bond.

The killing started when 60-year-old Linda Sanders was found beaten and stabbed to death insider her Grand Boulevard home in the 400 block of East 48th Street about 8:45 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

Prosecutors claimed Sanders' son, 40-year-old Dwight Brown, came over for dinner Sunday night and beat and stabbed his mother to death when her husband went to work for an overnight shift. Her body was found on the couple's 24th wedding anniversary.

Brown, of the 6200 block of South Dorchester Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery was ordered held without bond, authorities said.

Additionally, two people died last week from violent injuries suffered earlier in this year.

Kenneth Guise, 38, of Kaukauna, Wis., died Thursday night after being shot Jan. 29 during a party in the 11900 block of South Yale Avenue in the West Pullman neighborhood, authorities said.

Mayron Collier, 24, of the 10000 block of South Pulaski Road, was also wounded in the shooting and died at the scene, authorities said.

Christopher Cage, 27, of the 300 block of West 109th Place, was initially charged with first-degree murder for Collier's death and attempted murder for shooting Guise, authorities said. He is currently being held without bond.

Cierra Moore died Monday night after being stabbed in a domestic fight at a Roseland gas station in the 10000 block of South Michigan Avenue Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

Prosecutors claimed Moore's girlfriend, 23-year-old Eliza Roper, stabbed Moore during a fight at the gas station. Moore, 27, of Calumet City, was able to drive away, but was found unresponsive in the car about a block away, authorities said.

Roper, also of Calumet City, was charged with first-degree murder and was ordered held on $400,000 bond.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 35 Chicago deaths in 2015 a homicide.

Jamaine McDaniel was fatally shot in the Austin neighborhood Monday morning.

McDaniel, 33, was outside in the 200 block of South Lotus Avenue when a gunman walked up and opened fire about 11:10 a.m., authorities said.

McDaniel, who lived on the block, was shot in the head and chest and died at the scene, authorities said.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Anthony Diaz, 13, was fatally shot Feb. 8 in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood after family said he went out to solve a dispute that started over a Facebook post. Reader "warrmack" posted this about the killing:

FB comments are still getting young people killed. My niece Endia was shot and killed over the same BS. FB has put some families in very bad situations. My condolences to the family.

A 48-year-old woman was stabbed to death in the Roseland neighborhood Sunday.

Police found Janice Coleman dead inside a home in the 11300 block of South Parnell Avenue about noon Sunday, authorities said.

A Monday autopsy determined Coleman, of an unidentified home address, died of multiple stab wounds and the death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

A 60-year-old man was found shot and stabbed to death inside a Near West Side apartment Monday night.

Emergency crews responding to a fire alarm that activated in an apartment building in the 100 block of North Wood Street found Robert Smith lying face down about 9 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Smith, who lived on the block, had been shot and stabbed multiple times, authorities said. He was declared dead at the scene.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Sherrell M. Wayne was fatally shot in the Austin community Monday night.

Wayne, 37, was sitting in the driver's seat of a car parked in the 5100 block of West Crystal Street when a gunman walked up and opened fire about 9:35 p.m., authorities said.

After being shot in the neck, Wayne attempted to drive to his home in the nearby 5100 block of West Potomac Avenue, where he died at the scene, authorities said.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Chris Moore / Photo from Chicago Police

BY JORDAN OWEN
Sun-Times Media

A Far South Side man awaiting trail on a battery charge is now accused of stabbing a woman to death when she tried to leave a Roseland gathering with another man Saturday, prosecutors said.

Chris Moore, Janice Coleman and others spent Saturday morning drinking at an acquaintance's home in a home in the 11300 block of South Parnell Avenue, said Assistant State's Attorney Enrique Abraham.

When the resident "passed out," Coleman put her coat on to leave with another man at the gathering who she used to date, Abraham said.

Abraham claims Moore, 57, became upset and told Coleman, "You have been drinking with me all morning and you are going to leave with him, I don’t think so."

Moore followed the pair downstairs, wedged himself between the two and shut the door behind the other man, Abraham said.

While outside, the other man heard Coleman say, "Quit playing Chris," then multiple banging sounds, Abraham said. The other man waited outside for a few minutes, but when Coleman didn't come out he assumed she decided to stay with Moore and went across the street, prosecutors said.

The next day, the resident who had passed out found Coleman, 48, lying in the fetal position against the front door with her coat still on, Abraham said. She had a stab wound to her right side, and two slash wounds and a puncture wound to the right side of her face, prosecutors said.

A Monday autopsy determined Coleman, of an unidentified home address, died of multiple stab wounds and the death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

When the other man learned Coleman was dead he immediately contacted police and told detectives what happened, Abraham said.

When Moore was arrested he still had blood on him and admitted to having a dating relationship with Coleman, but said she fell down the stairs and hit her head, Abraham said.

Janice Coleman / Photo from Chicago Police

Moore claimed he attempted to help Coleman, when she did not get up he left, Abraham said.

Detectives found a bloody 8-inch knife in the kitchen garbage where she was stabbed, Abraham said. They also found a bloody towel and cap, prosecutors said.

Moore, of the 11100 block of South Lowe Avenue, was charged with first-degree and Judge James Brown ordered him held on $1 million bond during a Tuesday court hearing.

Moore, who prosecutors said has a lengthy criminal history including felony convictions for domestic abuse, attempted armed robbery and aggravated battery, cares for his elderly mother and is currently on disability from “an attack on his life,” said Assistant Public Defender Kelly McCarthy.

She added that Moore is a veteran of the U.S. Marines and Air Force, where he was a paratrooper in the Vietnam War.

Moore will be back in court March 3.

Gabriel Johnson / Photo from Cook County Sheriff's office

BY LEEANN SHELTON
Sun-Times Media

Two men were sentenced to prison Tuesday for their roles in a police chase that ended in a crash that killed an acquaintance in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood in August 2014.

Gabriel E. Johnson, 18, and Dontrell Reese, 20, and Wally Flex, 16, were in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo trying to outrun police on Aug. 14, 2014, when the car spun out and crashed near West 80th Street and South Lowe Avenue, prosecutors said.

Flex, a 16-year-old backseat passenger, suffered a broken neck from the crash and died at the scene, authorities said.

Before the crash, police officers investigating a nearby gang-related shooting noticed the Monte Carlo, which had a broken rear window, circling the area of the shooting, prosecutors said.

The officers attempted to stop the car, but the driver sped away. Officers watched the car hit a speed bump, disobey two stops signs and eventually crash into a light pole and flip over, prosecutors said.

The driver, Johnson, later tested positive for marijuana, prosecutors said. Emergency personnel found a loaded revolver tucked in his waistband after he was cut out of the wreckage, prosecutors said.

Reese tossed away a black .32 caliber revolver after climbing out of a passenger side window, prosecutors said.

Johnson, of the 6800 block of South Champlain Avenue, pleaded guilty Tuesday to reckless homicide, aggravated DUI and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, according to court records.

Reese, of the 7500 block of South Eggleston Avenue, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a weapon, according to court records.

Judge Joseph G. Kazmierski sentenced both men to four years each in prison.

Anthony Guedes / Photo from Chicago Police

A third man has been charged with murder for allegedly taking part in a plot to rob a suburban drug dealer near Midway Airport in September 2014.

Anthony Guedes, 22, of the 4700 block of South Hoyne Avenue, was extradited from Kissimmee, Fla., this week after being identified as the third suspect in the Sept. 5, 2014, murder of Giovanni Galindo in the 6200 block of South Kilpatrick Avenue, authorities said.

Galindo, 24, of the 10300 block of South Karlov in Oak Lawn, was found shot in the head inside a home about a half-mile from Midway Airport, authorities said.

Prosecutors claimed 18-year-old Luis Alfaro was contacted by an acquaintance, who said he planned to rob a drug dealer and asked Alfaro to set up a drug deal in return for marijuana.

Alfaro set up the fake drug deal, and Guedes and 16-year-old Pedro Corral met with Galindo and urged him to show them the drugs, prosecutors said.

Corral then pulled out a gun and shot Galindo, prosecutors said.

The robbers fled with the drugs and later gave Alfaro some of the cannabis as payment for setting up the deal, prosecutors said.

Alfaro, of the 4100 block of West 57th Place, told police he set up the deal knowing about the robbery plan and was charged with murder despite not being at the scene, authorities said. He is currently being held on $1 million bond.

Corral, 16, was charged as an adult with murder and is being held without bond. He was arrested Nov. 6 while performing community service at a Burbank church.

Guedes is scheduled to appear in bond court Thursday, according to police.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

A 16-year-old boy was found shot to death in the Humboldt Park neighborhood Tuesday night.

Jorge Ruiz was shot multiple times and found in an alley in the 1600 block of North Keeler Avenue about 10:10 p.m. Tuesday, authorities said.

Ruiz, of the 1700 block of North Keeler Avenue, was declared dead at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office, which ruled the death a homicide.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating if the shooting is gang related.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Roberto Madrigal / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Anthony Diaz came to watch.

Like others in the crowd who descended on the Northwest Side parking lot Sunday night, the 13-year-old wanted to see the fight between the two females who were duking it out on social media and in text messages just days before.

But when it was over, it was Anthony who bore the brunt of the violent evening, succumbing to the bullets fired by 18-year-old Roberto Madrigal— another spectator at the rumble, prosecutors said.

Anthony was later pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds, authorities said.

Anthony and his friends had come to the parking lot, in the 6000 block of West Grand Avenue, where the two females had agreed to settle the score, Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini said.

Madrigal had already been waiting with seven of his friends, Santini said.

The two females went over the rules of the fight before they began hitting each other, Santini said.

As they swung away, two people from the group of 14 allegedly recorded the physical altercation on their cell phones.

When one of the females started to “get the better of the other,” her friends jumped in and soon, a melee ensued with most those who came to watch, Santini said.

Moments later, Anthony started to walk away.

Madrigal, seen walking in the same direction, pulled out a gun from his waistband and shot Anthony four times, Santini said.

Madrigal was seen running from the scene with the weapon in his hand before he got into the car with his friends, Santini said.

Anthony Diaz / Submitted photo

He later allegedly admitted that he pulled the trigger to others.

Several witnesses had heard Madrigal discuss a gun and ammunition prior to arriving at the parking lot over the weekend, Santini said.

He had the driver of a car he was traveling in pull over to a home where he emerged from five minutes later, Santini said.

From there, Madrigal and his friends proceeded to the site of the scheduled fight, Santini said.

Anthony’s stepfather, Ralph Otero, 47, told the Sun-Times that Anthony and two of his sisters, ages 15 and 17, had gone to the parking lot to confront someone about Facebook posts.

Prosecutors, however, refused to discuss the ages or relationship of Anthony to the two females involved in the fight.

Madrigal, who appeared in court Friday with black jeans, white Nikes and a camouflage printed dress shirt, was identified by a handful of witnesses, authorities said.

Judge James Brown ordered Madrigal, of the 2700 block of North Laramie Avenue, held without bond. He will be back in court March 4.

Clevland Head was found beaten to death in the Chatham neighborhood Friday night.

Head, 31, was found dead on a sidewalk near West 87th Street and South Holland Road about 11:55 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

An autopsy determined Head, of the 9100 block of South Wentworth Avenue, died from a broken neck caused by blunt force, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office, which ruled the death a homicide.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Six people were killed throughout Chicago last week.

Two of the killings happened over the weekend, when at least six other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened when two men were shot inside a van in the 1400 block of West 71st Street in the West Englewood community about 3:20 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

A 21-year-old man was shot multiple times and taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he later died, authorities said. The Cook County medical examiner's office has not yet released his name.

The other man, 24, was shot in the arm and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for treatment, police said.

On Friday, 31-year-old Clevland Head was found dead on a sidewalk near West 87th Street and South Holland Road about 11:55 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

An autopsy determined Head, of the 9100 block of South Wentworth Avenue, died from a broken neck caused by blunt force, according to the medical examiner’s office, which ruled the death a homicide.

On Tuesday, 16-year-old Jorge Ruiz was shot multiple times and found in an alley in the 1600 block of North Keeler Avenue in the Humboldt Park community about 10:10 p.m., authorities said.

Ruiz, of the 1700 block of North Keeler Avenue, was declared dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Monday, 37-year-old Sherrell M. Wayne was shot in the neck while sitting in the driver's seat of a car parked in the 5100 block of West Crystal Street about 9:35 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

After being shot, Wayne attempted to drive to his home in the nearby 5100 block of West Potomac Avenue, where he died at the scene, authorities said.

On the Near West Side, 60-year-old Robert Smith was found dead in an apartment building in the 100 block of North Wood Street, authorities said.

Smith, who lived on the block, had been shot and stabbed multiple times and died at the scene, authorities said.

The killing started when 33-year-old Jamaine McDaniel was shot in the head and chest in the 200 block of South Lotus Avenue in the Austin community about 11:10 a.m. last Monday, authorities said.

McDaniel, who lived on the block, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner's office.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 40 Chicago deaths in 2015 a homicide.