Chicago Man Accused Of Murder Of Skokie Teen In Evanston Shooting

EVANSTON, IL — A Chicago man has become the first person to be charged in connection with last month's fatal shooting at an Evanston gas station.

The Nov. 28 shooting left 17-year-old Niles North High School senior Carl Dennison dead and wounded four other teens — including a 14-year-old who suffered a gunshot wound to her head and remains hospitalized, authorities said.

A 17-year-old boy who was shot multiple times in the groin, arm and buttocks is also still in hospital, according to police and prosecutors.

Leonard Galvez, 19, of the 7400 block of North Damen Avenue, Chicago, was ordered held without bond at an initial court appearance Friday on one count of first-degree murder and four counts of attempted first-degree murder.

Prosecutors said Galvez told investigators that three members of an unspecified street gang had paid him $300 to drive them to the area where the shooting occurred.

Galvez said the gang members all had guns and were driving around the area for two to three hours looking for members of another gang, prosecutors said. An associate of the gang targeted by the trio had allegedly disrespected a dead member of their gang.

Two of the five people shot had driven to the gas station to pick up Dennison and two other teens, who had left a friend's house on foot earlier that evening, according to the state's attorney's office.

As Dennison, another 17-year-old boy and a 15-year-old walked toward their ride, Galvez accelerated toward them in his silver Infiniti, and the gang members inside opened fire, authorities said.

Prosecutors said the incident was captured on video. Police found 29 cartridge casings that all appeared to have been fired from Galvez's car. There were 13 apparent bullet holes in one of the victims' cars.

According to police and prosecutors, Galvez admitted knowing the gang members in his car planned to commit a shooting. He said two of the three people in his car opened fire on the group of teens at the gas station.

Prosecutors said video from Galvez's garage shows his car was away from home between 6 and 8 p.m. the night of the shooting, which took place around 7:15 p.m. After the shooting, someone removed distinctive decals from the car, swapped a false Indiana license plate and changed the hood.

---

On Sunday, a week after the shooting, Galvez was driving his silver Infiniti on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago when he crashed into two light poles and was taken to the hospital, prosecutors said. His car was towed to an auto pound and later found by detectives investigating the Evanston shooting.

Once Galvez got out of the hospital, he went looking for his vehicle with Evanston police, and then, on Tuesday, went to Skokie and voluntarily spoke to police there. Prosecutors said he confessed to involvement in the murder during that interview.

Galvez is due back in court Dec. 28 in Skokie.

Evanston police said the investigation remains active and asked anyone with information about the incident or those responsible to contact detectives.

No information was immediately available regarding whether police have identified the three gang members that Galvez said he was paid to drive around — or with what gang they were allegedly affiliated.

Earlier: 'Targeted Attack': Evanston Shooting Leaves Teen Dead, 4 Wounded