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FBI Informant Hugged Man Before Killing Him: Prosecutors

By Erin Meyer | April 22, 2014 3:18pm
 Eugene Andrews (r.) is accused in the killing of East Garfield Park man Darren Ray, who family says was a neighborhood "peacemaker."
Eugene Andrews (r.) is accused in the killing of East Garfield Park man Darren Ray, who family says was a neighborhood "peacemaker."
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Family and Chicago Police Department

CHICAGO — An FBI informant hugged a East Garfield Park man known to family as a "peacemaker" before shooting him to death in a neighborhood alley this weekend, prosecutors said.

Eugene Andrews, 37, of the 2400 block of West Lexington Street, was ordered held without bail in the slaying of 42-year-old Darren Ray, a father of five, in the 2900 block of West Flournoy Street.

The two had known each other growing up, family and friends said, but had very different reputations in the neighborhood.

Andrews is "a murderer. He'd like to harm people," said Reathia Ray, the victim's sister. "He's going to suffer. God will make him suffer. He'll go through the same pain my brother went through."

Prosecutors presented the case against Andrews, a registered confidential informant with the FBI on drug cases, in bond court Tuesday. The entire incident was caught on surveillance tape.

The shooting happened a short distance from a convenience store where family and neighbors said Ray would stop to get coffee every morning.

Prior to the shooting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Andrews walked up to Ray and gave him a hug, prosecutors said.

Andrews then drove his car into an alley and Ray followed him on foot. Andrews got out of the car and pulled a gun from his waistband, prosecutors said.

Ray put his hands up, but Andrews shot him two times.

About three hours later, Andrews was found a half-mile away, where a black car with distinctive black rims that matched the one caught on video was found.

Andrews' handler, an FBI special agent, identified Andrews as the shooter in the video.

Andrews was on parole for his latest felony conviction, a 1999 attempted first-degree murder case. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in that case and was released on parole on Dec. 31, 2012, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Neighbors and family of Ray were in disbelief Saturday upon learning of his death.

"He was a peacemaker. He was able to fix things in this area," said Ray's cousin, Gregory Davis. "He's a mutual friend to all of the individuals. Everybody respected him."

Clairessia Jackson, a 34-year-old area resident, said she grew up with Andrews and Ray.

"He grew up around here as well. He had been in jail a long time," Jackson said of Andrews. "As little kids we all went to the same park to go swim."