Ruben Olivares, 36, was fatally shot on January 18, 2023, in the 3200 block of West Cortez Street in Humboldt Park, where he lived. He had just returned from a second job at La Canasta Bakery, one of his mother’s bakeries, and was getting something from his car when a drive-by shooter pulled up and opened fire at about 6:45 p.m. His wife, who had arrived home with their two children, ages 7 and 4, heard the shots and called to warn him.

Olivares was struck in the leg, a wound that hit a major artery; he was able to call for an ambulance and was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died five days later. Olivares had been a community activist and organizer, working about three years at the Northwest Center in Belmont Cragin, where he ran Health Equity outreach around COVID-19 vaccinations, food access, and public safety. The family, who had been preparing to move into a newly purchased home, received community support after his death.

Does anyone have information about that evening or the area around West Cortez Street that could help fill in what happened?