COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — When Manuel Madrid opened fire in Little Village, he claimed he was seeking revenge for the murder of his brother in Puerto Rico nine years ago, prosecutors said at his bond hearing Monday.
On April 28, the day before his 18th birthday, the self-admitted Latin King went looking for rivals from the Two Six street gang intent on retribution for the 2002 murder of his brother, Madrid told police after his arrest, according to court documents.
"I did it for revenge," Madrid allegedly told police. "I'm the one that fired the shots. One of the Two Six from that area killed my brother nine years ago in Puerto Rico."
Madrid's alleged accomplice, Juan Pagan, is accused of driving the stolen van used in the shooting. Madrid fired five shots from the van, prosecutors said.
Police asked Madrid how he knew that the man he was shooting at had anything to do with his brother's alleged death.
"It was a Puerto Rican Two Six who did it," he answered, according to police reports.
The bullets did not find their intended target, and the 19-year-old man who Madrid was shooting at swore on Friday that he's not in a gang and has no family in Puerto Rico, authorities said.
Madrid also told police that he bought the gun used in the shooting four days earlier on the North Side for $300, according to court records.
In the van used in the shooting, police found the steering wheel dismantled and two screwdrivers, presumably used to start the ignition.
Pagan, 27, and Madrid are charged with attempted murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm.
A Cook County judge ordered Madrid held on $750,000 bail. Pagan's bail was set at $250,000.
