72-year-old grandfather shot to death while walking on Chicago's Northwest Side
CHICAGO (CBS) – A family from Chicago's Northwest Side is in disbelief after their beloved grandfather was gunned down - moments after leaving a birthday party in Logan Square.
Police late Monday were looking for the man's killer. CBS 2's Andrew Ramos spoke to his grandchildren.
Sunday night was supposed to be a festive night for the Patino family, who were celebrating a relative's birthday.
But it ended in tragedy when Cesar Patino was shot and killed on busy Fullerton Avenue near Harding Avenue. The 72-year-old victim was a grandfather to 12, and the birthday party was for one of his grandsons.
His family late Monday was still wrapping their heads around the senseless loss.
"Cesar Patino was a very lovable and very respected person," said Patino's granddaughter, Erika Harris.
The heartbreak for Patino's family is immeasurable. He was the victim of what appeared to be a random shooting Sunday night.
Police said it was just before 10 p.m. Sunday when Patino was walking to his car following a relative's birthday party in the 3900 block of West Fullerton Avenue. Bullets then started flying.
"My aunt, she packed him lunch for today - for work today - and he was carrying his food," said Patino's granddaughter Karen Patino, "and he was so close to getting into his car. So close."
Surveillance footage obtained by CBS 2 shows a white sport-utility vehicle believed to be involved in the shooting. The vehicle rolls along Fullerton Avenue, and at that point gunfire rings out. Another surveillance camera captured that moment.
Seconds later, cars traveling along the street stop as their drivers react to what just happened. Witnesses said the white SUV made a U-turn before speeding away.
Patino's wife, who was walking a few feet behind him, found him on the sidewalk.
"She gets closer and closer, and she recognizes his shoes," said Karen Patino.
Patino suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. His family ran to his side.
His granddaughter, Kimberly, applied pressure to the bleeding.
"He was trying to talk," said granddaughter Kimberly Patino. "I saw his like mouth trembling, so I was like, he looked like he was there."
Tragically, the 72-year-old would die at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.
His family - who was planning to meet for a big Thanksgiving celebration this week - now left shattered. They remember their grandfather as a pillar in their household.
Patino was a native of Ecuador who always put family first. The grandson's birthday party Sunday evening was the last moment his family will share with him.
"We are happy that God gave us him, as a grandfather, as a father, as a husband – everything," said Harris. "Everything."
There was no clear motive in the shooting as of late Monday, and no arrests had been made.
The family is making a plea to the public, asking that anyone who knows something come forward.
Area 5 detectives are investigating.