String of armed robberies reported in Austin in less than a month

There were three armed robberies reported in Austin between March 24 and April 3, according to the Chicago Police Department.

Each incident involved two to three male suspects who either threatened victims or attacked them in order to take their belongings, according to police.

  • On March 24, a robbery happened on the 5600 block of West Corcoran Place at around 7:05 p.m.
  • On March 25, a robbery happened on the 800 block of North Waller Ave., at around 3:40 p.m.
  • On April 3, 5600 block of W. West End Ave., at around 10:30 p.m.

One man murdered in front of Madison restaurant

Aurelio Guzman, 32, was fatally shot to death at around 1:45 a.m. on April 6, on the 4900 block of West Madison, according to the Chicago Police Department.

According to a report by the Chicago Sun-Times, the man’s body “could be seen lying on the ground outside the Whale Fish Shrimp & Chicken restaurant,” where, according to witness accounts told to investigators, one man walked up to the victim, started shooting and fled the scene.

Austin apartment fire kills one man, injures two firefighters

A fire engulfed a four-story apartment building in Austin at 312 N. Central Ave., on April 1, according to media reports. Firefighters responded to the blaze at around 10 p.m., and found a 63-year-old, wheelchair-bound man dead on the scene. Two firefighters suffered injuries before the blaze was extinguished at around 10:45 p.m.

One firefighter suffered minor injuries while another is currently recovering after falling down an elevator shaft.

“He’s conscious and alert. It didn’t look like he suffered anything extremely serious from the fall,” Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford told the Chicago Tribune. “He was very fortunate.”

The blaze was caused by a mattress that caught fire from improperly used smoking material, according to media reports. According to the Tribune report, in February, the building failed an annual inspection because the owners failed to repair and properly maintain the elevator.

Boykin to introduce jobs bill at April 13 commissioners meeting

Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin (1st) will introduce legislation, called the Community Stabilization and Anti-Violence Act of Cook County, designed to reduce violence and provide economic stimulus in “depressed communities across the county,” according to an April 4 press release put out by Boykin’s office.

The measure, which Boykin is seeking to introduce at an April 13 commissioners meeting, will be funded through a $0.04 per gallon special use motor fuel tax imposed on all gas purchases in the county.

The tax will go to fund the creation of a Cook County Jobs Council, the Cook County Parenting to Prevent Violence Initiative, Cook County Office for People with Disabilities and a Cook County Community Policing Initiative.

“These initiatives wills stabilize and ultimately transform our most vulnerable communities,” noted Boykin in the release.