Suspects sought in fatal shooting of Elgin teen

Authorities continue to search for suspects in Thursday’s shooting death of a 16-year-old Elgin boy that police now consider gang related.

Police on Friday identified the victim as Nestor A. Alvarado, whose last known address was in Elgin.

In a news release, police said officers responded to a shooting at 7:40 p.m. on the 800 block of East Chicago Street. Witnesses provided police with a description of a vehicle believed to have been involved in the case. Officers located the car a few minutes later at Dundee Avenue and Symphony Way.

Several people were in the car, including Alvarado with a single gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin, where he was pronounced dead.

Lt. Dan O’Shea said the major investigations division and the gang unit are investigating the shooting.

John Heiderscheidt, safety coordinator in Elgin Area School District U-46, confirmed the teen was a student in the district but would not say which school he attended or release other identifying information.

“We’re holding tight until the police investigation is finished,” Heiderscheidt said.

Classes across the district wrapped up on Monday, but Heiderscheidt said a crisis team would be on standby for students attending summer school classes beginning next week.

“The district is saddened by this information,” Heiderscheidt said Friday. “There was a loss of life — two lives really because the person who did this, their life is ruined, too. But we lost a 16-year-old student who had a prospective future.”

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call (847) 289-2646 or the anonymous crime tip line at (847) 695-4195.