Family IDs young father shot to death in Irving Woods; 2 people of interest released without charges

Video captures gunshot that killed 24-year-old Chicago father of 2, Zet Rodriguez, in broad daylight

Monday, May 13, 2024
Young father shot to death on NW Side ID'd; 2 released without charges
An Irving Woods shooting in Chicago left 24-year-old father Zet Rodriguez dead on North Pittsburgh Avenue. Two people of interest have been released.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two people of interest who were being questioned in connection with a deadly Northwest Side shooting that left a 24-year-old father dead have been released without charged, police said.

The shooting happened on Friday morning in the Irving Woods neighborhood. The investigation remains active and ongoing, police said on Sunday.

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The neighborhood's alderman, 38th Ward Alderman Nicholas Sposato, called the decision to release the two people of interest a bad move.

Family members identified the victim as Zet Rodriguez. Even though his murder was captured on security video as he was walking to a bus stop, no one has been charged, bringing no closure to family and frustration to Sposato.

"Let's start being a little tougher on crime," Sposato said.

Sposato was at the scene Sunday, frustrated over what he said is a lack of progress in the case.

Where blood stained the pavement of a front yard days ago is now where this memorial grows, honoring the life of Zet Rodriguez.

"Certainly, don't want to convict anybody that's not guilty of anything," Sposato said. "I talked to a detective friend of mine who is a murder detective, and he said, 'This is not good that they're out.' So, I'm guessing they just didn't have enough information."

Family members of the victim told ABC7 that he lived a block away from the scene, and was on his way to work when he was fatally shot.

His final moments alive were spent in the arms of a neighbor who desperately tried to save his life.

Doorbell video captured the single gunshot heard in broad daylight, leading to a neighbor's panic. Police have been looking closely at the video, and Sposato described to ABC7 what he saw in the video.

"After he's shot, then stumbling, then in pain on the ground, he goes through his pockets and takes something from him," Sposato said. "Apparently, it was a robbery, but apparently they didn't take his phone, or they didn't take his computer."

Police have not released any information about a possible motive.

The victim's family said Rodriguez leaves behind a six-month-old daughter with another child on the way. His family is now raising funds for his funeral.

Police continue to investigate. No one is in custody.

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