Shooting at Halloween party leaves DePaul student dead
An argument at a Humboldt Park Halloween party early Sunday left a DePaul University student dead and another woman injured.
About 1:15 a.m., two people were shot at a party in the 1700 block of North Rockwell Street, where a Halloween party was taking place, according to police.
(DePaul University)
Francisco Valencia, 21, of the 5100 block of West Strong Street, was killed in the incident, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. He was pronounced dead at 4 a.m. at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. He died of multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide, according to a Sunday autopsy.
The shooting may have stemmed from a disagreement between the people at the party and an uninvited guest, according to a police source.
Valencia, who DePaul officials claim was a very involved and dedicated student, may not have been the intended target—but the shooter was allegedly angry with the people in the house and began shooting erratically, police said.
A 21-year-old woman—another DePaul student according to school officials—was also hurt in the shooting, and listed in “stable” condition at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to police News Affairs Sgt. Antoinette Ursitti.
Valencia was a commuter student but was very involved in on-campus organizations, according to a profile featured on DePaul’s Web site. In his free time, he enjoyed playing pick-up sports with friends and reading outside.
“After graduation, I plan to keeping moving forward in life,” Valencia said in the profile. “I believe it is important to figure out what life-path suits us and then gain experience that affect the growth of our potential.”
Valencia’s goal was to work on a political campaign in the Chicago area, according to the site. Valencia was a graduate of Lincoln Park High School and was expected to graduate in June 2010 with a political science degree.
No one was in custody early Monday, but Grand Central Area detectives said witnesses from the scene were cooperating with police and the investigation was progressing.