A West Side man has been charged with fatally shooting a 25-year-old southwest suburban man during a robbery early Saturday in the North Side Lakeview neighborhood.
Kristopher K. Pitts, 22, faces one count each of first-degree murder and robbery armed with a firearm, according to a statement from Chicago Police.
Pitts, of the 1100 block of North Central Park, was arrested after being identified as the man who shot Kevin O. O’Malley twice in the chest during a violent robbery about 2 a.m. in the 900 block of West Oakdale, authorities said.
O’Malley, of the the 10600 block of Palos West Drive in Palos Park, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
An officer at the scene said the shooting might have stemmed from an armed robbery for a cell phone.
Pitts fled the scene of the shooting but was arrested a short time later, police said.
O’Malley spent last week searching for the perfect gift for his girlfriend’s upcoming birthday, a coworker told HomicideWatch Chicago.
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“He was a really nice guy. He always had a positive attitude and always liked to joke around,” the coworker said. “He was very smart, but was one of those people that also didn’t take things too seriously.”
O’Malley enjoyed sports, especially the Sox and Bulls, said the coworker, who asked to remain anonymous.
After the shooting, authorities found O’Malley’s body in an alley underneath CTA train tracks, about a block east from a stretch of popular bars and restaurants on Sheffield Avenue.
A man working nearby, who declined to give his name, said he did not hear any gunshots.
“The train comes and goes, and it’s loud,” the man said. “It’s crazy something like this would happen here.”
After the charges were announced, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) expressed gratitude to Chicago Police, but called for additional resources in a post on Facebook.
“We are grateful to the police for their rapid response and to the witnesses who gave statements to the police, which aided in the apprehension of the suspect so quickly,” Tunney said.
“This senseless act of violence cannot be ignored. I am pushing for increased police resources to our community, including from area and citywide units, to ensure that our residents and visitors are safe walking on our streets at all hours of the day.”
Pitts is scheduled to appear in bond court Sunday.
