Nicholas Marquina Ortiz, 32, was shot and killed around 5:49 AM on March 31, 2022, on the 2500 block of North Lamon Avenue in Chicago’s Belmont Cragin neighborhood. He was described as a joyful, hardworking father who was on his way to work and was traveling in a vehicle with a coworker, 31-year-old Gabriela Hernández. An altercation with another driver who had been traveling ahead of them escalated; that driver exited his vehicle, a verbal confrontation followed, and the attacker opened fire, striking both Nicholas and Gabriela multiple times.

Both victims were taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead. No arrests have been announced and Area 5 detectives are investigating. A GoFundMe was organized by the family to help cover funeral expenses and support Nicholas’s young daughter and other loved ones.

If anyone in Belmont Cragin that morning saw the vehicles involved or the confrontation, please come forward with information that could help identify the shooter.