Chicago, IL

Melrose Park man who set Chicago’s ‘Walking Man’ on fire was an ‘angry person,’ prosecutors say

Published

3 years ago

May 30, 2022

Melrose Park man who set Chicago’s ‘Walking Man’ on fire was an ‘angry person,’ prosecutors say

CHICAGO (WLS) — The person charged with setting a homeless man on hearth who was typically seen strolling round downtown Chicago is being held with out bail.

Joseph Kromelis, often known as the “Strolling Man,” won’t ever stroll once more after prosecutors say Joseph Guardia doused the 75-year-old homeless man with gasoline and set on him on hearth whereas Kromelis was sleeping on a sidewalk.

“The sufferer’s physique instantly turned engulfed in flames,” Cook dinner County Assistant State’s Lawyer Danny Hanichak mentioned. “Because the sufferer bought up, he started thrashing round making an attempt to place the fireplace out. The defendant took off operating.”

RELATED | Chicago’s ‘Strolling Man’ lit on hearth whereas sleeping on road downtown, police supply says

Kromelis was on hearth for 3 minutes earlier than a Trump Tower safety guard rescued him with a hearth extinguisher. The crime was caught on surveillance video.

“In 16 years of prosecuting circumstances I’ve by no means seen a video so horrific,” Hanichak mentioned.

Prosecutors mentioned Guardia did not know Kromelis. He informed police he was offended and trying to set one thing on hearth.

“The defendant claimed he did not know an individual was there,” Hanichak mentioned. “The defendant didn’t present a particular motive apart from being an offended particular person.”

Prosecutors do not buy it. They are saying Kromelis’ face and ft had been uncovered, so that they consider Guardia knew he was setting a human being on hearth.

“This defendant didn’t goal somebody who he had an argument with or somebody who wronged him or somebody he knew,” Hanichak mentioned. “He focused probably the most weak particular person doable.”

Surveillance video tracked Guardia’s whereabouts following the crime. He took the CTA Blue Line and a Tempo bus again dwelling to Melrose Park, the place a police officer and one other resident acknowledged him after surveillance images had been launched by police.

Neighborhood activist Andrew Holmes got here to courtroom Monday to assist Kromelis, who has no household right here in Chicago

“Simply because he was much less lucky than others sleeping on that sidewalk,” Holmes mentioned. “I am right here, I am standing for him.”

Because the choose gave Guardia no bail, the prosecutor mentioned this case will seemingly be upgraded to homicide. Kromelis was taken to Stroger Hospital. Medical doctors mentioned he isn’t anticipated to outlive.

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Chicago, IL

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Crew by way of

Wednesday, November 23, 2022 3:26AM

FILE photograph: View of the Chicago Hearth Division, the third largest municipal hearth division in america of America, within the Chinatown neighborhood on Sept. 24, 2014.
Shutterstock

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago hearth officers mentioned two ladies have been discovered lifeless in an Englewood house after a home hearth.

The fireplace broke out Tuesday night at a home within the 7200-block of South Wolcott, Chicago hearth officers mentioned.

The fireplace was struck out at about 9:10 p.m., CFD mentioned.

After the fireplace was out, firefighters discovered two grownup feminine victims lifeless within the wreckage.

It was not instantly clear if the ladies died within the hearth or earlier than the fireplace. No additional particulars have been launched.

The Chicago Hearth Division has not but commented on any potential causes for the fireplace or mentioned in the event that they consider it was suspicious.

Chicago, IL

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

HIGHLAND PARK, Ailing. (WLS) — Three ladies and their households had been good strangers up till the second tragedy introduced them collectively within the aftermath of Highland Park’s July 4th parade.

As Thanksgiving approaches, they’re united in goal and in gratitude for probably the most primary of all issues: life.

“I believed I used to be going to die,” Highland Park capturing survivor Liz Turnipseed mentioned. “That I used to be going to put there and I used to be going to bleed out and I used to be going to die.”

WATCH | Highland Park capturing survivor tells her story

“I used to be on the parade with my three grownup kids, my son-in-law and my 2-year-old grand child,” mentioned Debra Baum, with the Highland Park Gun Violence Mission. “Our complete household may have been worn out.”

“July third I had 70 folks at my home and the following day our life bought flipped the other way up,” capturing survivor Lindsay Hartman mentioned. “So I simply know for me, I am attempting to take pleasure in it and never spend an excessive amount of time previously.”

SEE ALSO | Highland Park parade capturing short-term memorial opens subsequent to metropolis corridor

For Lindsay, not spending an excessive amount of time previously means internet hosting Thanksgiving for 30. Liz, who was one of many almost 50 folks injured that day, nonetheless wants a cane to get round, so she’ll be catering the meal and having her complete household fly in. Debra shall be coming along with the identical household she was with on July 4.

“There are numerous households in Highland Park that do not have folks with them this Thanksgiving due to what occurred,” Baum mentioned. “It is a very weighty realization.”

However there’s additionally gratitude for random issues and other people, like for the proper strangers who took in Liz’s 3-year-old daughter for a few hours after she was shot. And the neighbor she’d by no means met earlier than who lent her a step stool for her mattress.

Turning ache into goal is what unites these ladies now as they foyer for an assault weapons ban in Congress. As a result of whereas life for them won’t ever be the identical, it does transfer on.

Chicago, IL

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Tuesday, November 22, 2022 8:52PM

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Biden administration is but once more extending the pause on federal scholar mortgage funds, a profit that started in March 2020 to assist individuals who have been struggling financially because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a supply conversant in the plan mentioned.

The Division of Training will announce it’s extending the freeze one other six months with the primary funds due two months after June 30, the supply mentioned, until a Supreme Courtroom resolution on the president’s scholar mortgage aid program comes first.

The administration had beforehand mentioned the latest extension could be the final, and funds have been scheduled to restart in January.

However the administration had additionally meant for its scholar mortgage forgiveness program to start canceling as much as $20,000 in debt for low- and middle-income debtors earlier than January. This system has but to be carried out because it faces a number of authorized challenges.

This story is breaking and can be up to date.