Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Graffiti Tagger Stabbed to Death Just Blocks from His Home

By Chloe Riley | November 14, 2012 1:54pm
 Linear Caballero, 21, was stabbed to death on Western and Armitage avenues on Jan. 21, 2012.
Linear Caballero, 21, was stabbed to death on Western and Armitage avenues on Jan. 21, 2012.
View Full Caption
Facebook/Linear "Chip" Caballero

LOGAN SQUARE — A graffiti tagger who friends said made people smile was stabbed to death just blocks from his home in front of his girlfriend, according to authorities and reports.

Linear Caballero, 21, was attacked on Western and Armitage avenues on Jan. 21, just blocks from his home after getting into a fight with an alleged member of a graffiti crew.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Caballero was in his girlfriend’s car on their way to go shopping, when he got into an argument with Kristopher "Wicked" Klimala, who spotted them stopped at a light.

The victim recognized Klimala as being a member of the "Vandalize the City" graffiti crew who allegedly jumped him weeks earlier and told his girlfriend the man's name, according to the paper.

The suspect allegedly stabbed the victim after trying to drag him out of the car, the report said.

Klimala was charged with murder and held on $750,000 bond, according to court records and reports.

On a memorial Facebook page dedicated to Caballero, whose tag name was "Chip," friends and family remembered a happy, young man.

“If I had a flower for every time you made me smile and laugh I’d have a garden to walk in forever. goodnight chip,” one friend wrote.