March 31--A Chicago man was ordered held on $1 million bail in a recent fatal shooting outside of a West Humboldt Park liquor store.
Victor Mendoza, 26, of the 2200 block of West Major Avenue, appeared Thursday before Judge Donald Panarese Jr. after being charged with first-degree murder.
Mendoza is charged with the fatal shooting of Mario Ramirez, 35, of the 800 block of North Tripp Avenue, on March 23, according to prosecutors.
At about 12:28 a.m. on the 1100 block of North Pulaski Road, Mendoza who had been in a car with four other people across the street from a liquor store parked the vehicle and walked inside, prosecutors said.
After Mendoza walked out of the store, Ramirez pulled up in a car and began yelling at Mendoza and the other men as the stood outside of the store, prosecutors said.
When Mendoza began walking back to his car across the street from the liquor store, Ramirez began yelling at him. After Mendoza got into the car Ramirez backed up his car so it was parallel to Mendoza's car.
As the two men sat in their vehicles they began yelling at each other. At that point, Mendoza brandished a gun and pointed it at Ramirez and fired twice, hitting Ramirez.
After the shooting, Mendoza drove away as Ramirez followed for about 5 blocks until he died, prosecutors said.
Police found Ramirez unresponsive in his car. He was taken to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead, prosecutors said.
An autopsy determined that Ramirez died from a gunshot wound to his chest in a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.
Mendoza was identified by witnesses. In court on Thursday his lawyer said Mendoza is father of 2 children who works two jobs as an auto mechanic and as a laborer. The lawyer said he planned to argue self-defense.
