Final defendant sentenced in 2009 brutal gang murder of teen

The fourth and final defendant charged with the murder of a 15-year-old  South Side teen who refused to flash a gang sign when confronted by a group of gang members has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for the brutal 2009 attack, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Erick Ortiz, 19, of Chicago, was sentenced today to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections in connection with the murder of Alex Arellano, who was burned, beaten and shot to death in a vicious attack by gang members on May 2, 2009. 

According to prosecutors, Arellano was walking to a friend’s house in the 3000 block of West 54^th Place in Chicago with two girls when he was confronted by two Latin King gang members on bicycles who questioned him about his gang affiliation.  Arellano responded that he did not belong to a gang, and the two gang members rode off. 

Moments later a car containing other Latin King gang members approached Arellano and the two girls as they continued walking.  Defendant Alisa Campos, a member gang, exited the vehicle and began to beat Arellano with a baseball bat.  When Arellano attempted to run away, he was struck by the car the gang members arrived in, which was being driven by defendant Edgar Silva. 

According to prosecutors, Arellano was able to get up and run to a nearby abandoned house.  Arellano’s two companions ran from the area and called police as the gang members then followed Arellano and continued to beat him. Defendant Erick Ortiz dragged Arellano into a gangway and held him as fellow gang member, defendant Jovanny Martinez, shot him one time, point blank, in the head.  Arellano’s body was found the next day, burned beyond recognition, presumably to conceal evidence of the homicide.

“This case represents another senseless and tragic slaying of an innocent child by gang members who have absolutely no regard for human life,” State’s Attorney Alvarez said.  “This is a fitting and appropriate sentence for this defendant and all of those involved in this outrageous act of violence.  We thank everyone involved in this case who worked so hard to obtain some measure of justice for this victim and his family.” 

Ortiz and co-defendant Martinez, 19, of Chicago, were found guilty of first degree murder on April 29, 2013 at a bench trial in front of Judge Maura Slattery Boyle.  Martinez was sentenced to 75 years on June 27, 2013.  The other two defendants in the case, Campos, 26 and Silva, 22, both of Chicago, previously pled guilty.  Campos pled guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to 23 years on January 8, 2013.  Silva pled guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years on April 30, 2012, in exchange for his testimony in the trials of Martinez and Ortiz.

State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked the Chicago Police Department and Assistant State’s Attorney John Maher for their dedicated work on this case.