Police say shootings of Palatine father, son a double homicide
A 15-year-old Palatine boy and his father were shot and killed early Wednesday morning on the village's northeast side in what police say they are investigating as a double homicide.
According to police, officers responded to the Baldwin Green Apartments on the 1900 block of Green Lane North at 12:25 a.m. on a report that a man had been shot inside his residence.
When police entered the apartment, officers discovered Luis Reynoso, the 15-year-old boy, and Segundo Reynoso, his 38-year-old father, lying on the floor suffering from gunshot wounds, authorities said.
Both were transported to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where they died from their injuries. Although no arrests have been made, Palatine police, the Major Case Assistance Team Forensic Unit and the Cook County medical examiner's office continue to investigate the shootings. Police said the younger Reynoso is known to have gang ties.
Javier Ponce, who described Luis Reynoso as one of his best friends, said he last saw the teen about 9 p.m. Tuesday.
“He'd always be there for you no matter what,” Ponce, 15, said.
Ponce said he broke down in school when he learned of the shootings.
“I'm hurt because, you would never expect it to happen to him ... He was a good guy,” he said.
Palatine Schaumburg High School District 211 spokesman Tom Petersen said Luis Reynoso attended the district's Academy-North alternative school in Palatine until July 2013 but was not enrolled in one of the district's schools at the time of his death.
He has two sisters and a brother, according to Palatine police.
Tara Romero, who moved into the Baldwin Green Apartments last summer, said Wednesday she doesn't let her kids play outside because of gang activity in the area.
“I fear for the safety of the rest of the kids around here,” Romero said. “I don't trust the older, gang-related kids around here because they try to mess with everybody.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Palatine Police Department at (847) 359-9000 or the Palatine-Inverness Crime Stoppers Tip Line, (847) 590-7867.