May 3, 2009 9:56 pm US/Central
15-Year-Old Found Burned In Gangway
Family Kept Teen Out Of School For Months After Getting Threats From Gangs
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Alex Arellano Tirado's burned body was found Saturday afternoon in a Southwest side walkway.
CBS
Neighbors called it a savage attack -- a 15-year-old boy whom they said never bothered anyone, shot once in the head and set ablaze.
His body was left lying in the middle of a busy neighborhood near 54th Street and Albany Avenue.
On Sunday, night, a tiny flame burned at the scene for Alex Arellano Tirado, whose body was found Saturday.
Tirado's family says they think he slipped away to visit a girl sometime Thursday evening and never returned.
Neighbors tell CBS 2 several witnesses saw gang members chasing the teen.
Police said Alex had no criminal history and was not affiliated with a gang.
Alex was a student at Chicago Discovery Academy, which is housed at Bowen High School, 2710 E. 89th St.
His family said he had been missing for days.
Alex was last seen by his family Thursday evening. They were concerned because the 15-year-old has a learning disability. They also say Alex had been tormented by local gang members. The teen's uncle says the family worked hard to keep him away from bullies or gang members who might attack him. They even kept him out of school for a couple of months.
"He started getting death threats, not going to school," said Juan Tirado, Tirado's uncle. "I don't know how, if he looked like a gang member."
Then came the gruesome discovery on Saturday night.
"We seen the body, it was kid of burned…bunch of items around, we found thinner," said a witness to the scene who agreed to speak with CBS 2, only if we concealed his identity.
"Before it was just fights, now it's gang violence – guns, burning people, it's just insane already," he said.
The evening before Alex's charred remains were found, his uncle says he went to the 8th District to file a police report, because his nephew was missing.
"We actually had an issue with the police department; we were given the runaround," Juan Tirado said. "We were told to go to this district, that district."
Tirado says a person on duty at the Chicago Lawn Police District told him to go to the Deering District station several miles away, where he was told: "Come home and call 911."
Any incident that happens in the City of Chicago can be reported at any police station at any time. That's why the family just didn't understand, why they were told to go from one district to another. Then, call 911 to file a police report.
Tirado says he did call 911 and finally an officer arrived to file a report. In response to these allegations, Roderick Drew, a Chicago Police Department spokesperson said: "A police report was filed late Friday. We are looking into other aspects of this case."
Police say they have no one in custody right now. Wentworth Area detectives are conducting a homicide investigation.
When asked what his nephew's favorite hobbies were, Juan Tirado said besides hanging out with friends, Alex worked out all the time. Alex told his uncle, he wanted to be strong, so he could protect himself.
The STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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