Suspect Held in Mail Bomb Plot
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D C Questions? Call 1-800-Tribune Saturday, October 27, 2018 Breaking news at chicagotribune.com ‘It was Suspect held in killing for the sake mail bomb plot of killing’ Feds charge South Side gang faction in 10 Englewood slayings By Jason Meisner and Annie Sweeney Chicago Tribune Lifelong Englewood resident Gerald Sias Jr. was getting his hair cut in a popular neighborhood barbershop on a Thursday after- noon two years ago when a gunman suddenly appeared in the doorway and opened fire. Bullets whizzed into Powell’s Barber Shop on West 63rd Street as patrons scrambled to hide behind chairs. Sias, 38, a father of five with no gang ties, was struck in the arm and died later at a nearby hospital. Another cus- tomer was wounded in the leg. A federal racketeering indict- ment made public Friday alleged Sias’ May 2016 slaying was one of 10 killings carried out by a South Side street gang faction during a three-year reign of terror in the Englewood community that tar- geted rivals and innocent victims. The 25-page indictment — first reported by the Chicago Tribune — charges four reputed members of the Goonie Boss faction of the Gangster Disciples with racket- eering conspiracy and alleges six attempted murders, two assaults and other violence in addition to the killings — all in or near Englewood from 2014 to 2016. Unlike traditional racketeering cases that accuse gang members of using violence to protect drug AMY BETH BENNETT/SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL turf or other illicit enterprises, the An FBI agent examines a computer at the auto parts store in Plantation, Fla., where Cesar Sayoc, 56, was arrested Friday in connection with charges against the Goonie Boss more than a dozen bombs sent to critics of President Donald Trump, seemingly capping an investigation into a bizarre series of attacks. members alleged they shot people simply to boost their social media brand. Authorities say print, DNA link Fla. man to ‘IEDs’ targeting prominent Democrats “It was killing for the sake of killing,” said Chicago police Sgt. By Devlin Barrett, five-day stretch in which at least transporting explosives across Man with a past Charles Daly, who helped put the Mark Berman one explosive device was found state lines, illegally mailing ex- case together. and Matt Zapotosky each day, putting officials and plosives, threatening former Suspect in bombing plot Among the evidence is a dis- The Washington Post potential targets on high alert. presidents and others, threat- variously described as “loner,” turbing video that was streamed None of the devices detonated. ening interstate communications “lunatic.” Page 6 live on Facebook following the WASHINGTON — A man in All of them were sent to people and assaulting federal officials, January 2016 murder of a Goonie Florida with a lengthy criminal who have criticized or clashed according to charging docu- Squad rival. In the video, about a record was arrested and charged with President Donald Trump, ments. trace Sayoc after finding a finger- dozen members of the gang, some Friday with sending 13 packages and authorities continued to He could face decades in print on an envelope containing a as young as 14, wave guns in front containing improvised explosive warn Friday that others could prison if convicted. bomb sent to Rep. Maxine Wa- of the camera and dance as they devices to high-profile figures still be out there. At a joint news conference ters, D-Calif., and that DNA taunt the victim, chanting, “How across the country, authorities Authorities arrested 56-year- with various law enforcement found on two of the devices was a the f--- did he get hit?” and “One said. old Cesar Sayoc, who according officials, FBI Director Christo- possible match to a sample taken in the head, no lie.” The arrest came on the same to Florida records has a criminal pher Wray referred to the 13 from Sayoc during an earlier Other victims, like Sias, were day law enforcement found three record dating back decades that explosive devices recovered so arrest. just at the wrong place at the more devices — in Florida, New included including a past arrest far as “IEDs,” an abbreviation for Inside the packages sent to wrong time, according to the York and California — and for making a bomb threat. improvised explosive devices. He capped off an increasingly tense Sayoc was charged Friday with said investigators were able to Turn to Arrest, Page 5 Turn to Killings, Page 4 Sterigenics Slain restaurant owner cancer risks hailed as loving, caring held back Friend in car says gunman ‘just pulled from public up and started firing’ By Angie Leventis Lourgos, Letter: Administrations Robert McCoppin knew information for and Amanda Marrazzo months before acting Chicago Tribune By Michael Hawthorne Family and friends remember Chicago Tribune ZBIGNIEW BZDAK/CHICAGO TRIBUNE Peter Rim — the owner of several Neighbors of the Sterigenics plant in Willowbrook pack a hearing popular suburban restaurants, Gov. Bruce Rauner’s adminis- Friday in Chicago’s Loop called by state lawmakers. who was was fatally shot Thurs- tration knew in December that day on the Northwest Side of toxic air pollution from the Republican’s former private eq- scenes with the U.S. Environ- Chicago — as the kind of man Sterigenics plant in west subur- uity firm. mental Protection Agency be- who cared for everyone. BISTRO WASABI RESTAURANT ban Willowbrook likely was re- Disclosure of the previously tween December and August on “The idea of taking the shirt Restaurant owner Peter Rim was sponsible for some of the highest unknown warning about Ster- a more intensive investigation of off your back and giving it to fatally shot Thursday on Chi- cancer risks in the nation, ac- igenics comes as angry and Sterigenics and discussed poten- somebody, he did that for all who cago’s Northwest Side. cording to a letter obtained by frightened neighbors packed a tial solutions to the company’s needed it,” said Rim’s friend and the Tribune. hearing Friday in the Loop called pollution problems. roommate Kurt Anderson, who 6:45 a.m. Thursday, police said. The governor’s office and the by state lawmakers who are State officials ended up defer- said he witnessed the shooting. The gunman said something Rauner-led Illinois Environmen- scrambling to respond to health ring to political appointees in “That was the beauty of Peter before firing, but Rim, who tal Protection Agency kept the dangers in a swath of suburban President Donald Trump’s ad- himself.” suffered from hearing loss, ap- politically explosive information Chicago that also is a key battle- ministration to determine when Rim, 46, suffered a gunshot parently could not understand, from the public for eight months, ground in the Nov. 6 election. and how the public was told wound to the head when some- police said. They did not know if then initially downplayed the Other records obtained by the about what insiders understood one in an SUV pulled up and that was why he was shot. dangers posed by a company Tribune show the Rauner ad- opened fire in the 4100 block of owned in part by the incumbent ministration worked behind the Turn to Sterigenics, Page 4 West Diversey Avenue around Turn to Rim, Page 5 Cook County jury convicts serial rapist of 1981 Bears list Mack, Robinson as questionable fatal stabbing of North Side woman Chicagoland, Page 3 for Sunday’s home game against Jets Chicago Sports Chicago Weather Center: Complete $2.50 city and suburbs, $3.00 elsewhere High Low Tom Skilling’s forecast 55 45 forecast on back of Chicago Sports 171st year No. 300 © Chicago Tribune 2 Chicago Tribune | Section 1 | Saturday, October 27, 2018 Hundreds receive free tickets to Michelle Obama book tour Former first lady set aside according to the release. The National 10 percent of tickets for Association for Urban Debate Leagues, Girl Scouts and Public Allies community and nonprofits — a nonprofit with AmeriCorps ties that Obama worked at early in her By Katie Galioto career — were each given an allotment Chicago Tribune of passes. Tickets for the Chicago event went Among the 20,000 people gathered fast, with all but the most expensive in the United Center to see Michelle seats selling out just a few days after Obama next month will be hundreds they went on sale in September. Less of young people receiving free admis- than 200 tickets still were available sion to the former first lady’s highly Friday on Ticketmaster’s website, go- anticipated book tour. ing for $640 to $2,500. Cheaper Obama will be in her hometown to options are being sold secondhand on kick off the national tour for her StubHub, but a ticket in the nosebleed memoir “Becoming,” which comes out seats will still cost about $100. Nov. 13, the day she’s set to appear in In what is being billed as “an Chicago. Ten percent of tickets for the intimate and honest” conversation, almost-sold-out event were set aside Obama will be interviewed onstage at for local and community organiza- the United Center by a to-be-an- tions on each stop of the tour, nounced moderator. Her tour will take according to a news release Friday. CROWN PHOTO her to nine more cities after Chicago, Many of the complimentary tickets Former first lady Michelle Obama’s including two events in both Washing- will go to youth groups to make the memoir, “Becoming,” comes out Nov. ton, D.C., and Brooklyn, N.Y. tour accessible to as many people as 13, the same day she starts her na- Last year, Obama and her husband, possible, Obama said in the release.