Julien Gonzalez was 2 years old when he was killed on October 6, 2018, in Chicago’s Hermosa neighborhood. He was standing on the sidewalk near the mouth of an alley with an 18-year-old man during a house party when shots were fired after a petty argument between two women escalated. The shooting began after 27-year-old gang member Alexander Varela, who had not been invited to the party, demanded to know partygoers’ gang affiliations and ordered a fellow gang member to start shooting.

Julien was struck in the neck and taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The 18-year-old with him was shot in the leg while trying to protect Julien and was treated at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Detectives found 9-mm shell casings fired from the same gun, which had a laser sight attached. Varela was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and aggravated battery and held without bond; witnesses from the party provided information that led to his arrest. The shooter who fired the fatal bullet was not immediately apprehended and the investigation remained open.

Did anyone at the party or in the neighborhood see the person who actually fired the shots or have further details that could help close the case?