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D'Amato's Bakery Worker Aristeo Soriano Shot Dead In West Town

By  Kelly Bauer and Alisa Hauser | August 9, 2017 8:07am | Updated on August 11, 2017 2:01pm

 Aristeo Soriano was shot dead in the 1300 block of West Huron Street early Wednesday.
Aristeo Soriano was shot dead in the 1300 block of West Huron Street early Wednesday.
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GoFundMe and DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser

CHICAGO — A 49-year-old man who worked at D'Amato's Bakery for 20 years and was well known by many residents was shot to death in West Town early Wednesday.

Aristeo "Pasquale" Soriano was a baker for D'Amato's Bakery, according to a GoFundMe campaign set up to help his family. The campaign had raised $3,750 as of Friday afternoon with a goal of $10,000.

At 2:24 a.m. Wednesday, Soriano was walking in the 1300 block of West Huron Street when someone walked up to him, took out a gun and fired a shot, police said.

He was hit in his chest and taken to Northwestern Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. 

Aristeo Soriano Pastrana, of the 700 block of North Throop Street, was pronounced dead at 3:08 a.m. and an autopsy showed he died from a gunshot wound in his back in a homicide, according to Cook County Medical Examiner's Office records.

Lenny Clinton, a West Town resident who lives one block away from the bakery, said that Soriano was a constant presence at D'Amato's.

"This guy said hello to me & my dogs every day for nearly nine years. Me & my neighbors are devastated. A GOOD Human Being," Clinton tweeted.

According to the GoFundMe campaign, which cites WGN, Soriano was a father of four and a grandfather who worked the overnight baking shift from 4:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., walking the same route to and from work every day. He was on his way home from a friend's house when the gunman opened fire

Hector Gerena lives on the block where Soriano was killed. He said he didn't hear any commotion Wednesday morning, but he said this is far from the first shooting he's heard of since moving there.

"I'm not surprised," Gerena said. "It seems like every summer something happens here. Last summer two of my neighbors were sitting on a porch having a beer, not bothering anyone, and they were both shot. Thank God they survived." 

No one was in custody.

On Friday night, members of the volunteer-run West Town Safety Committee, Ald. Joe Moreno (1st) and Near West District police are holding a community safety walk near where Soriano was killed. Residents are encouraged to wear bright clothing and bring a flashlight. 

The walk is scheduled for 9:30-11:30 p.m., starting at the corner of Huron and Elizabeth streets.