Road rage shooting: $7K reward offered after 3-year-old boy shot, killed in West Lawn, police say
'We can get these baby killers off the streets,' said community activist Andrew Holmes, who offered the reward.
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A $7,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to the arrest of the person who police said shot and killed 3-year-old Mateo Zastro, leaving his family torn.
"That mother is still grieving. All she's doing is clutching onto two dinosaurs, and this was the baby's favorite toy, said community activist Andrew Holmes.
The leftover shattered glass is a reminder of the terrifying moments that ended with the toddler fatally shot while riding in the car with his mother and three siblings.
"We can get these baby killers off the streets," Holmes said.
It all unfolded at about 8:30 p.m. on Friday night, with an apparent road rage incident near Cicero Avenue and West 71st Street on Chicago's Southwest Side, police said.
"The mother attempted to flee from the other vehicle of the road rage incident," said 8th District Chicago Police Department Commander Bryan Spreyne.
But, she didn't get far, making it only blocks away to Marquette Road near Kildare Avenue, where the mother was tracked down and shots were fired, police said. A nearby home, was riddled with bullets after someone in the backseat of a red sedan took aim at the mom's car.
A bullet struck little Mateo in the head.
"There was no tint on that window. You saw those children inside of that car, and you still discharged that weapon, Holmes said.
The mother kept driving, ending up at South Pulaski Road near West 66th Place, police said. Her son was taken to Christ Hospital, where he died hours later, early Saturday morning.
"Our hearts are broken by this senseless act of violence that took this child's life," Spreyne said.
One anti-violence group returned to the scene in West Lawn to help as much as they can.
"We're out here trying to combat this violence, trying to help people get their neighborhoods back," said Calvin Brown with Communities Partnering 4 Peace.
Police vowed to make sure the boy's killer is held accountable.
"We will not rest until those responsible for this senseless and cowardly act of violence are brought to justice," Spreyne said. "Our vow to the child's family and to the entire city is we will not rest until those responsible for this senseless and cowardly act of violence, are brought to justice... To those responsible for taking this precious child's life: do the right thing, the honorable thing, and turn yourselves in."
Police asked anyone who might have captured the shooting on surveillance video to come forward.
"Money alone cannot brings this child back. But, if so be it, we have to put a bounty on someone's head to get this information, to get them convicted for taking this child's life... this is the second child inside of a vehicle shot in the head and we have baby killers out on the streets," Holmes said of the reward he is offering.
