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Lakeview Shooting Happened During Gang Memorial for Man Killed 2 Years Ago

By Serena Dai | May 12, 2014 1:36pm
 A shooting happened at Addison Street and Ashland Avenue early Sunday, allegedly during a memorial service for a slain gang member.
A shooting happened at Addison Street and Ashland Avenue early Sunday, allegedly during a memorial service for a slain gang member.
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DNAinfo/Serena Dai

LAKEVIEW — A weekend shooting in Lakeview happened during a memorial service for a gang member who was killed at an area gas station two years ago, the alderman's office and a witness said.

After 3 a.m. Sunday, a 26-year-old man outside Tai's Til 4, 3611 N. Ashland Ave., was struck in the eye by a bullet that richocheted from across the street, police and Ald. Tom Tunney's (44th) office said.

Police said they believe several alleged gang members were at the gas station, 3600 N. Ashland Ave., for a memorial service for Max Vallejo, 26, a tow truck driver who died at the corner two years ago, Tunney's spokeswoman Erin Duffy said.

Vallejo was a member of the Latin Eagles gang and was shot after an argument with a man who allegedly belonged to Spanish Gangster Disciples, according to Vallejo's father.

On Saturday, people were at the gas station lighting candles, taking photos and flashing signs as early as 9 or 10 p.m., said Jake Levitus, 24, who lives on the street and saw them.

Rival gang members then allegedly came by, flashed gang signs and opened fire, Duffy said.

The shooting victim was not a gang member and not the intended target, she said. He is in "stable" condition.

Levitus walked back home from Wrigleyville about 20 minutes after the shooting, he said, where people were "really frantic."

Though he didn't think the shooting said anything about the neighborhood, he said it was "scary" that someone who was apparently not involved got hurt, Levitus said.

"It can happen to anyone," he said.