Afternoon Edition: June 21, 2021Satchel Priceon June 21, 2021 at 8:00 pm

Today’s update is a 5-minute read that will brief you on the day’s biggest stories.

Good afternoon. Here’s the latest news you need to know in Chicago. It’s about a 5-minute read that will brief you on today’s biggest stories.

This afternoon will be partly sunny with a high near 72 degrees. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low around 53. Tomorrow will be sunny with a high near 76.

Top story

Man killed, girlfriend critically wounded in attack during Puerto Rican Day Parade in Humboldt Park: ‘Such an amazing friend’

“Happy Father’s Day,” read one message on the black poster board. “RIP Gyo,” read another.

The sign was taped to a pole just feet from where Gyovanny Arzuaga was shot to death and his girlfriend — the mother of their two children — was critically wounded during the Puerto Rican Day Parade in Humboldt Park Saturday night.

Arzuaga, who had just turned 24, and the woman, 25, were ambushed by up to three people around 9:15 p.m. in the 3200 block of West Division Street, according to Chicago police.

Arzuaga was taken to Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said. The woman was hit in the neck and taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition.

A police spokeswoman said there was a crash before the shooting and a crowd had surrounded the couple’s car. Video circulated on social media appears to show the couple being dragged from the car and shot as they lay in the street.

Police would not comment on the video Monday morning. No one was reported in custody, and no descriptions or images of the attackers were released.

A memorial was erected Sunday near the site of the shooting. Loved ones lit candles and left balloons and bouquets of flowers for Arzuaga.

“He was just there to have a good time and go back home,” said his friend, Jae Pacheco, who had planned to meet up with him later in the evening.

Read our reporters’ full story here.

More news you need

1. Mayor Lori Lightfoot vowed to hunt down everyone involved in the “horrific” Humboldt Park shooting that killed Arzuaga. Lightfoot said the police have “promising leads” after tips from the community and again called for Chief Judge Tim Evans to order the full resumption of criminal trials.
2. Chicago police know who fatally stabbed a Maryland graduate student on a weekend afternoon in the South Loop and are “scouring the various homeless encampments downtown,” Lightfoot said. Anat Kimchi, 31, had been working on her doctoral degree in criminology and criminal justice.
3. The mayor also said today that the Chicago Police Department needs to do a better job of recruiting to counter the recent wave of retirements. City Hall reporter Fran Spielman says Lightfoot “responded to the mass exodus by stating the obvious” — that it was “a challenging time” for police recruitment and that CPD needs to be “creative” in its recruitment approach.
4. Emergency crews continued checking on residents this morning after a tornado tore through the western suburbs last night. Read our full story on the aftermath of the devastating storm, which one neighbor called the “craziest 45 seconds of my life.”
5. The cleanup effort in Woodridge, where the tornado first touched down, has already begun. As chainsaws growled and bulldozers crunched over splintered tree limbs, a resident eyed the meager pile of possessions she’d managed to save — a stack of family photographs, her wedding ring, a ceramic figurine of the Virgin Mary.
6. The University of Illinois joins a host of private schools in requiring all students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to campus next fall. The flagship U. of I. system in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield appears to be the first public university in the state to require the shots.
7. If the owner of Parkway Gardens wants a casino license, it might need to show some love to the 1950s-era, low-income housing complex. David Roeder provides an update after owner Related Midwest put the South Side complex on the market, then pulled it off amid code violations.

A bright one

7-year-old honored for making 911 call that helped save his mother

Daniel Armani sat inside a fire truck Friday, with his hands on the large steering wheel and feet unable to reach the floor while wearing a plastic fire helmet and an ear-to-ear smile.

It was all part of the 7-year-old’s reward for helping to save his mom’s life.

Daniel, who goes by D.J., called 911 on May 30 at 6 p.m. because his mother was having an epileptic seizure. He then calmly and cooly relayed critical information while comforting his mother.

“I’ve been here for 18 years and handled thousands and thousands of calls, but this guy was a step ahead, especially for being so young,” said Dianne Statts-Mareci, the Chicago Fire Department communications officer who handled the call.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Statts-Mareci said the call was transferred to her from police communication officer Andrea Jones when it was determined to be a medical issue. Jones stayed on the line, and both of them took information from D.J. that helped save his mother, Tarissa Clark.

“We get a lot of calls from kids but you could hear in his voice that something wasn’t right,” Jones said, explaining why she transferred the call to Statts-Mareci. Both said D.J. remained cool and provided them with important information.

“It’s key because all the information we ask is necessary to get the right kind of help,” Statts-Mareci said.

Read Bob Chiarito’s full story here.

From the press box

• Former Cubs star Ben Zobrist claimed in a lawsuit filed last month that he discovered his ex-wife was having an affair with their minister prior to their divorce. Zobrist, 40, is seeking $6 million in damages from Byron Yawn, who he alleges also defrauded his charity foundation, for which Yawn worked.
• The Bulls hope the ping pong balls will bounce their way when the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery is held tomorrow night. The team needs to leap into the top five (a 20.3% chance) or its top pick will be sent to the Magic as part of the Nikola Vucevic trade.
• White Sox manager Tony La Russa said yesterday he’s confident the team’s front office “will do all they can” before the trade deadline to improve the team.

Your daily question ☕

How has the pandemic changed how you plan for your future?

Email us (please include your first name and where you live) and we might include your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.

Reply to this email (please include your first name and where you live) and we might feature your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.

On Friday, we asked you: What advice do you have for this year’s graduates? Here’s what some of you said…

“Don’t worry too much about what others think of you. Be worthy, be honest, and love yourself. All else will follow.” — Carolyn Jackson

“Advance your education. Whether it’s trade school, college or the military, anywhere you can learn to support yourself and contribute.” — Kate Tallent

“Our society is not too far gone. Follow your dream and add something good for the next generation along the way.” — Pauly Dee

“Find a trade — electrician, plumber, etc. That’s the way to go. [Those jobs] will always be needed and make great money.” — Guy Battista

“Nothing in this world is free or handed to you, do the work.” — Brian Berg

“Live your life with your mind focused on 10 years down the road. What are you doing and what did you do to get where you are now?” — Genevieve Williams

“Keep moving forward and believe in yourself, regardless of what others may say!” — Mary Stapleton

Thanks for reading the Chicago Afternoon Edition. Got a story you think we missed? Email us here.

Sign up here to get the Afternoon Edition in your inbox every day.

Read More