Abel Lopez, a 26-year-old Hispanic man from Chicago, was found dead on August 16, 2020, in an alley in the 3600 block of West Belmont Avenue in the Avondale neighborhood on the city’s Northwest Side. He was discovered unresponsive in the driver’s seat of a vehicle and suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head; the Cook County medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.

Area Five detectives opened an investigation that initially faced challenges from a lack of immediate leads or witnesses as detectives sought motive and suspects.The case later produced a major development when a 17-year-old male was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm in connection with Lopez’s killing, and court proceedings and evidence preparation followed.

If anyone in Avondale remembers the vehicle or saw anything on August 16, 2020, please share what was observed.