Solidarity in wake of violence

A picture of Rocio Munez-Ramos is fastened to a mirror of the hair salon where she worked.

Two candles burn in memorial, as employees and customers talk about her life, and her death.

One of the customers said his wife had her hair cut by Munez-Ramos just 15 minutes before the 26-year-old Elgin resident was gunned down on Nov. 25 outside the salon, located in the Park Place shopping center near the corner of Barrington and Irving Park roads, in Hanover Park.

Another merchant, Patricio Sandoval, said he was in his truck in the parking lot when Munez-Ramos was killed, and saw a man running away from the scene and a person pulled out of the vehicle where the crime took place.

"We are scared, because maybe next time it can happen to you," said Sandoval, who operates the 7 Leguas de Oro, which sells boots, clothing and other items.

Sandoval said he has been robbed twice in his store, once at gunpoint.

Gabriela Manzano of Manzano Jewelry, another business in the shopping center, also said safety is a concern. She is particularly afraid of robbery, especially during the current economic downturn.

"I wouldn't say it is unsafe (here), but I would say it could be better," she said.

Hanover Park residents are cautiously coming to grips after two brutal slayings hit the community within a week.

On Nov. 20, Vatsala Thakkar was stabbed to death outside another strip mall.

Arrests have been made in both cases, which police say are not related.

A sign of the community's solidarity was a prayer vigil held last week at Evangel Assembly of God, within a short distance from the Dollar Plus store at 5662 Arlington Drive E. where the 56-year-old Thakkar was killed.

On Sunday, Pastor Ron Heitman, in his sermon, continued to encourage parishioners to be there for one another in a crisis.

"I think that everyone is shocked by the fact that here in our area there have been two tragic murders," said Heitman before the service.

One of the vigil's participants, Jennie Swanson, pastor of nearby Living Christ Lutheran Church, said the vigil showed the good that the community can accomplish together. "That helped to dispel some of the darkness," she said. "If we only concern ourselves with crime and the bad guys and the threat, we begin to forget that most people are not a part of that. That most people want what is best for their children and that most people when called upon will do what is right."

The type of violence that shook Hanover Park is not a common occurrence, she said.

"Maybe that's why it produced such emotion," she said.

Once arrests were made, though, and police could say what happened, people began to calm down and focus on hope and working at being peaceful and loving toward one another, she said.

Sergio Hernandez, 23, of 559 High St. in Aurora, has been charged with first-degree murder in Munez-Ramos' death.

His bond was set Saturday at $1.5 million.

A man and two teens are accused of targeting Thakkar as she worked alone in a Hanover Park discount store.

Jerry Lockhart, 39, and Dewaun Tate, 17, were ordered held on $2 million bond; 15-year-old Seneca Berry, charged as an adult but held in the youth home, has a $1 million bond.

They are charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery. All are from Hanover Park.

Both Heitman and Swanson were in contact with the family of Thakkar, a mother of three whose grandson was only 10 days old when the killing occurred.

Heitman was also careful to note that the families of the perpetrators, as well as those of the victims, also are suffering.

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