Suspect Charged With Murder Of 13-Year-Old Boy
Updated 02/13/15 - 2:32 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An 18-year-old man has been charged in the shooting death of a 13-year-old boy, during an apparent dispute over Facebook posts.
Anthony Diaz, 13, was killed in front of his 16- and 17-year-old sisters Sunday night, after the sisters went out to fight someone over trash-talk that started on Facebook. His family said Anthony tagged along when the sisters went out around 10:30 p.m. to confront another girl about the dispute. Instead, a crowd jumped Diaz and his sisters near Grand and Austin avenues, and Diaz was shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital about an hour later.
Early Friday, 18-year-old Roberto Madrigal was charged with one count of first-degree murder in Anthony's death. Madrigal ordered held without bail at a bond hearing Friday afternoon.
Anthony's father, Ralph Otero, said he's relieved someone has been arrested and charged.
"In a way, I'm happy, because somebody, on a violent crime, got pulled away from the street, and there won't be no other innocent child getting killed by the same person," Otero said. "But we're not happy in the sense that that's not going to bring our kid back to life."
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Anthony's parents said they're not sure what sparked the dispute on Facebook, but Otero said the other girl's mother has continued waging expletive-filled trash talk on Facebook, even after the shooting.
"She needs to stop. She needs to stop acting like a child. This is not a joke. This is not something to retaliate," he said.
Anthony's mother, Laura de Domenico said her 16-year-old daughter is in a street gang, and has had legal problems.
"I'm against violence. I'm a hard-working mom, and I don't even know where she gets this from, but that's her hobby: running away, and fights," de Domenico said. "She always had this problem with fighting. I always tell her not to take him, because he's not streetwise at all."
De Domenico said her daughter's first words after learning Anthony had been killed were about retaliation.
"First thing, I walk home, she's like 'How he's doing?' I'm like, 'he's gone.' The first thing, 'I'm going to get revenge.' I'm like, 'No, you ain't getting no revenge.' I mean, take this as an example for all you guys, teenagers, because you guys, for stupid things, a lot of people getting killed, and your brother's not coming back," she said.
De Domenico said she will cry for her son for the rest of her life.
Otero said police have told the family others could be charged in Anthony's death.
Police said the investigation continues.
Anthony's wake has been scheduled for Feb. 19 at New Life 3:16 Church at 5120 W. Fullerton Av. his funeral and burial will be the next day.
Otero said the family is still accepting donations to a fund to help pay for funeral expenses. The account is at Chase Bank, in the name of Anthony Diaz. The account number is 3044283371.
