Ramon Flores

Ramon Flores Jr., a man remembered for his love of family, infectious smile, and advice that came from the heart, was a 42-year-old Hispanic father and entrepreneur. Known to friends and family by nicknames like "Muneco," "Moncho," and "Budda," he was an outgoing and energetic man who lived by the motto "FAMILY FIRST." A graduate of Chicago's Kelvyn Park High School, Ramon had been living in Orlando, Florida, but his roots and connections remained in the city where he grew up. Those who loved him recalled a beautiful person, a great uncle, and an awesome father who always put God first.

On the night of Friday, October 16, 2020, Ramon was in Chicago hosting a birthday party at a bar in the Dunning neighborhood on the Northwest Side. Around 11:50 p.m., he stepped outside to smoke in the 6700 block of West Belmont Avenue. As he stood on the sidewalk, two men approached him and opened fire. Ramon was struck by a bullet in the back. The assailants immediately fled, running north on Normandy Avenue. Paramedics rushed Ramon to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office later ruled his death a homicide.

The investigation into Ramon's murder was handled by Area Five detectives of the Chicago Police Department. Investigators recovered surveillance video that captured the shooting. A significant break in the case came from a GPS monitoring device worn by one of the suspects. The electronic tracker, which had been fitted as a condition of a pending juvenile gun case, placed the suspect at the scene of the crime inside a gray Toyota Camry that was seen fleeing the area after the shooting.

About a month later, authorities made an arrest. On November 29, 2020, prosecutors charged 17-year-old Fabian Diaz of Franklin Park as an adult with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Ramon Flores Jr. At a bail hearing, prosecutors stated that Diaz and another uncharged individual were the gunmen seen on video firing the shots that killed Ramon. While the motive for the attack was not definitively known, authorities said it was believed to be gang-related.

During the hearing, Diaz's attorney stated that he worked as a Walmart clerk, lived with his family, and was studying for his GED. The attorney also mentioned that Diaz suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after having been shot and wounded in a previous incident. A judge denied the prosecution's request to hold Diaz without bail, instead setting his bail at $2 million and ordering him placed on house arrest, citing the evidence against him.

The case against Fabian Diaz is now proceeding through the Cook County court system. For the family and friends of Ramon Flores Jr., the legal process continues. They remember a man who was full of smiles and laughter, a hard worker who traveled between Chicago and Florida for his entrepreneurial endeavors. On a memorial page, loved ones lit hundreds of candles and shared memories, with one childhood friend writing, "Growing up together, separated by circumstances, but, never forgotten! Spread your Wings my Angel." As of late 2020, the case was in litigation.