Christian Rodriguez, a 24-year-old father, musician, and beloved family man from Chicago’s West Lawn neighborhood, was a person of vibrant energy and talent. Known in the drill music scene as “Stain Savage,” he expressed his creativity through rap. To his family, he was a loving son to Irma Zepeda and Samuel Torres, a cherished brother to Christopher, Ireri, Alondra, and Lucas, and the life partner of Laura Salgado. Above all, he was a devoted father to his three children: D'Angelo, Sophia, and Damian. Friends remembered him as shy, sweet, intelligent, and talented, with a unique aura that left a lasting impression on those who knew him.
The afternoon of Sunday, June 11, 2017, brought a sudden and violent end to Christian’s life. At approximately 5:10 p.m., he was walking in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, on the 4800 block of South Winchester Avenue. A stolen green sedan approached and stopped at the mouth of an alley.
According to authorities, a passenger exited the vehicle armed with an AR-15 rifle and opened fire, striking Christian multiple times in his abdomen and right leg. The assailants then fled the scene. Paramedics rushed Christian to Stroger Hospital, but his injuries were too severe. He was pronounced dead at 6:48 p.m., less than two hours after the attack.
The Chicago Police Department launched a homicide investigation, piecing together the events of that fatal evening. The crime was captured on a police-managed POD camera, and the suspects’ escape route was tracked across multiple surveillance video systems. Investigators used still images from this footage to identify the individuals involved. According to prosecutors, the shooting was not a random act of violence but a calculated gang mission. They alleged that leaders of the La Raza street gang had ordered members to target and shoot rivals. Authorities identified Christian as a member of a rival gang.
The investigation led police to Christopher Villagomez, a 17-year-old sophomore high school student from the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Based on identifications made by at least five Deering District tactical officers who had prior interactions with him, Villagomez was identified as the driver of the stolen sedan used in the murder. He was arrested at his school in March 2018 and charged with first-degree murder.
During his interrogation by detectives, and in the presence of his mother, Villagomez reportedly gave a recorded confession detailing his role in the shooting. At his initial bond hearing, prosecutors laid out the case, describing how Villagomez and his accomplice allegedly armed themselves and drove to the rival gang's territory with instructions to kill. The judge ordered Villagomez held without bail.
In court, Villagomez’s attorney argued that his client had struggled with school attendance but was enrolled at the time of his arrest. The attorney also stated that Villagomez had since left the La Raza gang. The case highlighted the devastating cycle of gang violence that continues to plague communities in Chicago. As of March 2018, Christopher Villagomez was awaiting his next court date. The final disposition of the first-degree murder charge against him is not available in public records.
