U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has apprehended individuals suspected of participating in a fatal mass shooting at a house party in Chicago’s Southwest Side in December 2024, as reported by the ABC7 I-Team.
Three people were killed and five others were injured in the shooting on December 2.
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“They were pointing their guns at me and my husband, they knocked him down to the ground,” Maria Occhipinti said in Spanish.
The I-Team previously talked to Occhipinti, whose daughter was dating Edward Martinez-Cermeno, shortly after he was released from custody in January. They recounted their experience with ICE during an immigration raid in Schaumburg when Martinez-Cermeno was initially detained.
“They just left without an explanation,” Occhipinti said. “They didn’t show many any documents. We were scared, we’re all in crisis.”
Martinez-Cermeno, now 24, is back in ICE custody, charged with being a shooter in the deadly party incident in the Gage Park area. He is also alleged to be part of the notorious Tren De Aragua Venezuelan gang, alongside 25-year-old Ricardo Granadillo Padilla, who was captured by ICE Homeland Security Investigations in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Authorities said Granadillo Padilla was found with a pistol and ammunition. ICE said multiple firearms, high-capacity magazines, narcotics and fraudulent documents were seized in January from Granadillo Padilla’s residence in Chicago.
Martinez-Cermeno had been living with his girlfriend’s parents, Maria and Ruben Occhipinti, the couple told the I-Team in January, before he was arrested.
However, there is no case against either Martinez-Cermeno or Granadillo Padilla listed in Cook County or federal court.
Martinez-Cermeno is facing charges for illegally entering the U.S., and ICE said Granadillo Padilla was sentenced for the same charge.
Martinez-Cermano is not listed in the available ICE locator.
Over the past several weeks, ICE claims 16 additional TdA members and associates of the shooters in the Chicago area and Raleigh, North Carolina were arrested on immigration charges.
An attorney who previously represented Martinez-Cermeno did not respond to the I-Team’s request for comment on the new allegations.
The ABC7 I-Team also reached out to Chicago police, who are not commenting on the case.
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