A 49-year-old man, living on the streets of Chicago, became the victim of a brutal attack early Sunday morning, ultimately succumbing to a stab wound. The incident unfolded in the city’s Loop, shattering the quiet of the dawn and leaving a community reeling.
Three teenagers, all reportedly recent arrivals from Venezuela, have been charged in connection with the homicide. Wuinayker Rodriguez-Vasquez, 16, faces the most serious charge – first-degree murder – and is being prosecuted as an adult. A judge has ordered him held without bail pending trial.
Two 14-year-olds also face charges; one with first-degree murder and the other with armed robbery. Both appeared in juvenile court Monday and were ordered to remain in custody. Authorities state the victim had no prior connection to any of the suspects.
Records indicate Rodriguez-Vasquez entered the U.S. in September 2023 near Eagle Pass, Texas, accompanied by his mother. He was briefly detained by Texas authorities at that time, flagged in a case related to immigration inadmissibility, before being released.
The attack occurred around 5:45 a.m. The victim was asleep near his few possessions – a cat and a distinctive skeleton mask. Prosecutors detail a calculated approach by the group, with Rodriguez-Vasquez concealing a knife within his sleeve and another teen armed with a metal rod.
The sequence of events, as presented in court, paints a chilling picture. One teenager snatched the victim’s mask and fled. When the man rose to confront them, he was kicked by Rodriguez-Vasquez and struck by one of the 14-year-olds. Then, Rodriguez-Vasquez allegedly stabbed him in the back.
Surveillance footage captured the entire horrifying encounter. The victim was rushed to a hospital, but the stab wound proved fatal. The medical examiner confirmed the cause of death as a homicide.
Police quickly identified the suspects through surveillance footage, recognizing their clothing. Rodriguez-Vasquez was found with a knife and positively identified by his mother and another member of the group.
Disturbing images recovered after the incident allegedly show Rodriguez-Vasquez brandishing the knife, mimicking stabbing motions, and even wearing the victim’s stolen skeleton mask. The details suggest a callous disregard for human life.
Sources describe the attack as exceptionally cruel, a “mob-style” assault. Reports indicate some of the suspects were observed laughing in the aftermath, adding another layer of horror to the already tragic event.
