Introduction to the Tragedy
Residents in Pilsen said the neighborhood early Sunday “was like a war zone.” A party was going on in an alley in the 1900 block of West 17th Street when a person approached and began arguing with two men there. When the two men asked the person to leave, he “became unruly,” pulled a gun and began shooting, sparking an exchange of gunfire between “several individuals,” according to a Chicago police report.
The Shooting and Its Aftermath
More than 50 shell casings from at least four guns were found at the scene, police said. The two men who asked the shooter to leave were wounded in the gunfire and survived, but a beloved man in the neighborhood, Pedro Toledo Catalan — known as “Pepe” — was caught in the crossfire and died. Catalan, who was believed to have been unhoused, was often seen wandering the streets. The 46-year-old was on one of his walks around 1:40 a.m when he was shot. Several bullets hit Catalan in the neck and ankle, and responding officers found him in the middle of the intersection of 17th Street and Wolcott Avenue, according to the report. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:29 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office and police.
The Victim and the Community
He was among nine killed and more than 50 wounded in violence over the long Labor Day weekend.
Pedro “Pepe” Toledo Catalan on Sunday evening.
Stephany Colunga/Provided
The men who argued with the assailant, 41 and 43, were each shot in their legs and taken to Mount Sinai in good condition, police said. The assailant fled. Police temporarily placed a man in custody who told officers he exchanged gunfire with someone at the time of the shooting. The man had a valid concealed carry license and was not charged, police said. Area 3 detectives were reviewing video footage of the shooting. Catalan, 54, “was one of the sweetest guys. He would never harm anyone,” said Gabriel, a man who said he often saw Catalan and was at his nearby home at the time of the shooting.
Community Reaction and Memorial
Orange cones block off a memorial for Pepe on Tuesday at 17th Street and Wolcott Avenue. Gabriel, who declined to give his last name, said people in the neighborhood often fed Catalan and looked out for him, though he preferred to spend his time wandering alone. “This part of the neighborhood is pretty calm, but now this makes you think twice about leaving your home,” Gabriel said. “There’s a lot of older people like my parents who like to sit outside. They should be able to do that and be safe.” A woman who identified herself as Claudia, said she didn’t think Catalan was unhoused, but she wasn’t sure where he lived. “He grew up here, and I think he lived nearby,” she said. “I think he just liked to wander outside. He wasn’t a danger to anyone. It’s very sad.” Residents set up a memorial in honor of Catalan at 17th Street and Wolcott Avenue. On Tuesday morning, a photo of him was propped against a street sign surrounded by flowers and candles.
Funeral Arrangements and Personal Memories
Stephany Colunga started a Gofundme to help pay for Catalan’s funeral expenses, but it was closed after raising $9,000. Colunga said she was with Catalan on Saturday evening, and she could not believe when she heard from neighbors the next day that he had been killed. “I was literally just with him,” Colunga told the Sun-Times. “For so many years I didn’t talk to him, but in the last few years I got to know him, I got to know his personality. I just couldn’t believe it.” Catalan was a “very gentle person” who was always giggling, loved smoking cigarettes and drinking Monster energy drinks and Coca-Cola, Colunga said. “Pepe wasn’t a beggar,” she said. “He never asked for anything. He just did his own thing.”
Conclusion
The tragic death of Pedro Toledo Catalan has left a community in mourning, remembering him as one of the sweetest guys who would never harm anyone. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the violence that can erupt in even the most calm of neighborhoods, leaving innocent lives lost and communities shattered. As the neighborhood comes to terms with this loss, they also remember the gentle soul of Pepe, who despite his preference for solitude, was a cherished member of their community.
FAQs
Q: What happened to Pedro Toledo Catalan?
A: Pedro Toledo Catalan, known as “Pepe,” was caught in the crossfire of a shooting in the Pilsen neighborhood and died.
Q: Where did the shooting occur?
A
