A file photo shows a crime scene blocked off by the Chicago Police Department. (WTTW News)
Days after an order of protection was issued against him, a Chicago man allegedly killed his wife and 15-year-old daughter and wounded his 18-year-old son in a shooting at their Little Village neighborhood home.
Jose Alvarez, 67, was held without bond Thursday following his arrest on two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery. Those charges come days after prosecutors say he fatally shot 48-year-old Karina Gonzalez and 15-year-old Daniela Alvarez as they sat on a couch in their home in the 2600 block of South Millard Avenue.
“This is extremely tragic,” Judge David Kelly said during Thursday’s hearing. “We know for certain that two people succumbed to the injuries here and then one person was also caused some great bodily harm as well.”
According to Assistant State’s Attorney Anne McCord Rodgers, Gonzalez received an order of protection against her husband late last month after he’d allegedly been abusive toward her for years and has a history of substance abuse.
Gonzalez and her children moved out of the house they shared with Alvarez following that order, but moved back in on June 26 after Alvarez agreed to enter a rehab program, McCord Rodgers said. But within a few days, Alvarez’s abusive behavior allegedly began once again.
On Sunday, Gonzalez and her children returned to their home after work at around 10 p.m., when Alvarez began accusing her of cheating on him, according to McCord Rodgers. She told him to stop and went to sit on a couch with Daniela Alvarez, while their son threatened to call 911.
Alvarez then allegedly retrieved a 9mm Glock firearm from his bedroom and walked into the living room, where he shot both Gonzalez and their daughter multiple times. Their son took cover under a table and shielded himself with a chair before Alvarez fired shots at him as well, striking him in the ankle, McCord Rodgers said.
Alvarez allegedly stopped firing briefly, which allowed the 18-year-old to flee the home and call 911, before police arrived and arrested Alvarez inside the home. According to McCord Rodgers, Gonzalez was shot eight times, with gunshot wounds to her head, face, wrist and hand, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Daniela Alvarez was shot twice, once in the face and once in the arm, and later died at a local hospital.
McCord Rodgers said Alvarez was the registered owner of that Glock firearm and had a previously valid Firearm Owners Identification card, but that card was revoked as a result of the order of protection.
Investigators recovered 14 shell casings on scene and located surveillance video which captured audio of 14 gunshots at the same time as the shooting, according to McCord Rodgers. Forensics testing has matched six of those casings to Alvarez’s firearm, while testing on the other casings is not yet complete, she said.
An online fundraiser collecting money for the 18-year-old's medical bills and funeral expenses for Gonzalez and Daniela Alvarez has raised more than $16,000 as of Thursday afternoon.
Alvarez is due back in court for a hearing July 26.
Note: This story has been updated to clarify that the order of protection had been issued, but not served to Alvarez, according to prosecutors.
Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431
