CHICAGO — A 19-year-old Cicero man has been charged in connection with an April shooting near Wicker Park that left a 37-year-old man critically wounded, prosecutors revealed this week.
Ruben Vargas is being held without bail after authorities used surveillance footage to connect him to the April 19 incident on the 1400 block of West Division Street. The victim was hospitalized for more than three weeks with serious injuries to his neck and collarbone area.
Shooting Triggered by Suspicious Group Encounter
According to prosecutors, the victim was driving near a gas station just after 12:30 a.m. when he spotted a group of young men dressed in black, accompanied by an older, larger man. The driver told investigators he believed the group was “looking for trouble” and suspected one of them was armed, based on how he was holding his waistband.
Fearing he might be targeted, the victim drove off but briefly stopped to pick up an acquaintance nearby—concerned the group might threaten them both.
Moments later, surveillance footage allegedly captured Ruben Vargas pulling a gun and opening fire on the victim’s vehicle. The driver was struck in the neck area and lost control of the car, which crashed into a Shell gas station at 1400 West Division Street.
Emergency crews rushed the victim to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he remained for 24 days recovering from his injuries.
Video Evidence and Fugitive Arrest
Investigators say surveillance video from multiple sources shows Vargas walking with the group, including the older man, both before and after the shooting. After a fugitive task force arrested him recently, Vargas reportedly told police he was present in the area that night and knew “something happened” but denied being the shooter.
The older man seen with the group was also identified and arrested, though prosecutors have not filed charges against him in connection to the April 19 attack. According to CWBChicago, that man has a criminal history, including a 2019 arrest for firing a gun on Division Street—just blocks from the recent shooting. He previously served a seven-year prison sentence for that case.
Charges and Legal Outlook
Vargas remains in custody by order of Cook County Judge Luciano Panici, Jr., as the investigation continues. The incident is part of an ongoing concern in West Town and Wicker Park neighborhoods, where gun violence and late-night street groups have alarmed residents.
Have you seen increased safety concerns near Wicker Park or West Division Street? Share your experiences in the comments — ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com wants to hear from you.
