Chicago Man Charged with Murder after Fatal Shooting of Army Veteran in Oak Park

OAK PARK, Ill. (WLS) — A Chicago man has been charged after an Army veteran was killed in a shooting in Oak Park Friday morning, police said.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

Six people were initially taken in custody, but five have been released without charges.

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Police were called to the 600-block of South Boulevard around 1:23 a.m. on Friday after receiving reports of a male victim who had suffered a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, the victim was found and taken to Loyola Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead by the authorities.

The victim was identified as 54-year-old Corey Gates of South Holland, Oak Park police said.

Jabari McGee, 20, of Chicago has been charged with first-degree murder in connection to the death of Gates, police announced Sunday.

Loved ones of the victim spoke exclusively with ABC7 on Friday. They said the shooting began with an attempted carjacking.

According to family members, Gates was a veteran of the Army who had served during the Gulf War. Despite being confronted by an armed group attempting to steal his car, he valiantly fought back, displaying his fighting spirit until his final moments of life.

READ MORE | 6 in custody after Army veteran shot, killed during Oak Park carjacking: ‘He was a fighter’

“It’s devastating to know that my twin has been senselessly murdered,” expressed Cathleen Gates, the victim’s twin sister. She mourned the loss of her brother, emphasizing the pain of his absence caused by the actions of those she referred to as ‘bums’.

There’s never been a moment in Cathleen’s life that she’s spent without her twin brother, until now.

“I just talked to him, yesterday,” she said. “And, that was the last time I talked to him. I didn’t know it would be the last… last time.” 2:09

Now, she is mourning her brother and pleading for justice.

“Went to work, didn’t bother anybody,” Cathleen Gates said. “Whatever I needed, he was there. He did what he had to do as a man, and for him to go out this way?”

“Served the country and come back over here and get took out by some goons,” Cathleen Gates said.

The family says the Gulf War Army veteran worked as a phlebotomist and had just gotten off from a late shift when he was targeted in an apparent and random carjacking.

“Getting off the ‘L,’ parked right there, getting in his car,” Cathleen Gates said. “From what they said, it looked like it was a struggle or something. I mean, I knew he wasn’t going to go out like that. He was a fighter… I just want them brought to justice. That’s all I want.”

Police later found three juveniles and two adults matching the description running eastbound on Pleasant Street from Cuyler Avenue and took them into custody. An additional adult male suspect was later taken into custody, police said.

Five of the six people taken into custody were released without charges, police announced Saturday.

McGee remains in custody while he awaits an initial court hearing, Oak Park police said.

The West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force is assisting with the investigation.

No further information was immediately available.