Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Two men — both with histories of gun-related arrests — have been charged in the early Monday murder of Chicago Police Officer Alejandro Valadez as he responded to a call of shots fired in the South Side's Englewood neighborhood.

Shawn D. Gaston, 20, and Kevin A. Walker, 21, were taken into custody for questioning within hours of Monday's fatal shooting of Officer Alejandro Valadez in the 6000 block of South Hermitage.

Gaston and Walker were each charged with one count of first degree murder, first degree murder of a peace officer and attempted first degree murder, according to a Chicago Police Dept. release.

Gaston admitted he fired shots at the officer and Walker admitted to driving the vehicle involved in the drive-by shooting, police said during a Tuesday press conference.

Responding officers learned that the men were inside a blue 2007 Pontiac G6 — a four-door sedan — that was positively identified as being the vehicle used in the shooting of Valadez, according to a police report. The vehicle was found by police just 20 minutes after the shooting.

Police said three guns were recovered inside the car, including what they believe was the murder weapon. The weapons were found in the trunk.

Valadez's shooting happened just after midnight Monday in the 6000 block of South Hermitage Avenue as the officer, who wore plain clothes, was responding to a report of shots fired and a person with a gun, Police Supt. Jody Weis said during a news briefing earlier Monday.

A vehicle with "more than one individual'' inside drove by and fired several rounds at the officer, striking the officer once in the leg and once in the head, Weis said. Valadez's partner was with him, according to Weis.

The officer was taken to Stroger Hospital, according to Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford. Fellow officers and family members were in and out of the hospital visiting all day, waiting for updates on his condition.

The officer was taken off life support and died at 2:40 p.m. Monday, Weis said.

Weis, who came to the earlier media briefing straight from visiting the officer at Stroger Hospital, said the visit was "incredibly difficult."

"It's like everyone got punched in the stomach," Weis said. "You walk around the hospital. There's young officers -- they're in tears. Many of them do not have a lot of time on the job now, they realize how dangerous it is."

CBS 2's Jim Williams reports that his fellow officers remember Valadez as a good cop and a good man.

Police officers who worked with Alejandro Valadez on the midnight shift put on uniforms Tuesday afternoon and came to work hours early to describe what he meant to them as a friend and a colleague.

Purple bunting was hung outside the Englewood District police station in honor of Officer Valadez.

Despite this difficult time in their lives, Officer Valadez' colleagues, a captain, lieutenant, sergeant and two officers wanted to talk about a man who loved his job, though he patrolled some of the most dangerous streets in Chicago.

"Finding crime as it is happening, not just waiting to respond to it. These are the sharpshooters, the eagle eyes of the department that go out there, and Alex was one of our best," Captain Corwin Calhoun said.

"He was fun, always had a smile on his face. Even if he had troubles, you would never know it," Officer Stacy Toms said. "Always ready to work and always there whenever you needed him."

"He enjoyed what he did and he made a lot of great arrests, but at the same time he also treated the citizens with respect," Officer Melvin Oliver said.

"Alex was wonderful. He was a hard worker. He was extremely dedicated," Sergeant Shannon Jasica said. "He was a true friend to everyone in this district, especially on our watch. He always wanted to make a difference and I believe he did make a difference."

On Monday night, police held a vigil at Valadez's home Englewood District station, 1438 W. 63rd St., and they paid tribute to their fallen comrade.

Sources say the officer had a brother and sister who are also officers, as was his girlfriend, who was assigned to the same district as he is.

Valadez had earned a department commendation and three honorable mentions in his three short years on the force.

Valadez was the first Chicago police officer killed in the line of duty since Nathaniel Taylor was slain last September.

More recently, last week, Officer Densey Cole II was critically injured last Wednesday when he was involved in a two-vehicle crash as he was responding to a burglary in progress at the intersection of West 98th and South Halsted streets.

"These are very violent times and our officers are out there every day," Weis said. "They risk their lives trying to make a difference."

Gaston was arrested in 2007 for carrying a loaded gun in the 6000 block of South Paulina, about two blocks from Valadez's slaying.

Gaston pleaded guilty to a felony and was sentenced on March 20, 2008 to two years' probation by Judge Bertina Lampkin. He is due in court before Lampkin next month on a violation of probation.

Gaston has been arrested at least 13 times on charges that include robbery, assault and gambling. He's listed on several arrest reports as a member of the Gangster Disciples.

Walker pleaded guilty to a 2008 attempted armed robbery in the 6400 block of South Fairfield after he pulled a man from a truck as an accomplice held a gun to the man's head, according to court records.

CBS 2's Jim Williams interviewed the officer who was with Valadez when he died, his partner, Officer Tom Vargas. His interview will air on our 10 p.m. news.

CBS 2's Jim Williams and Don Schwenneker, and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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