Man fatally shot after chasing down vehicle that hit cyclist during organized bike ride on South Side

Diane Pathieu Image
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Alberto Bocanegra, Jr., shot after chasing down vehicle that hit bicyclist
Alberto Bocanegra, Jr., was shot after chasing down vehicle that hit a bicyclist.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A 39-year-old man was fatally shot early Tuesday after chasing a driver who allegedly hit a female bicyclist participating in a group bike ride on the South Side, Chicago police said.

About 100 riders were taking part in the ride at about 1:30 a.m. Alberto Bocanegra, Jr., known as a community activist who once ran for 12th Ward alderman, was in a car as part of the bike riding group and was recording the cyclists.

He saw a car hit one of the bike riders, a 30-year-old woman, and take off. Bocanegra raced after that car and got into an argument with the driver in the 600 block of East 76th Street.

Then, a second vehicle - identified as a blue SUV -- pulled up and someone from that car opened fire, shooting the victim twice in the neck.

Bocanegra was transported to University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Bocanegra had recently battled cancer.

The female bike rider sustained a shoulder injury and was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where she is expected to be OK.

No one was in custody for the shooting Tuesday.

Police are investigating.

A man was fatally shot after trying to help a woman in a group bike ride who had just been hit by a car Tuesday morning, Chicago police said.