Weeks earlier than man was charged with killing spouse and daughter, cops reported him a ‘clear and current hazard’ however didn’t seize gun

Jose Alvarez was indignant and sweating, a gun inside attain, as he talked to Chicago law enforcement officials who had been referred to as to the Little Village neighborhood for a disturbance late final month.

The officers took defensive positions as they spoke to Alvarez by means of an open window, in accordance with a police report. They lastly left when he refused to return to the door and turned off the lights.

Ten days later, authorities say Alvarez used the gun to kill his spouse and 15-year-old daughter and wound his 18-year-old son, who ran to a neighbor’s dwelling for assist.

It’s not clear why the officers selected to not seize the gun after they have been involved sufficient to later file a “clear and current hazard” report about Alvarez, in accordance with information. The police division had no rapid remark.

The case raises different questions on why Alvarez nonetheless had his gun on July 3 when he allegedly killed his spouse Karina Gonzalez and his daughter Daniela Alvarez.

The day earlier than the officers visited the house, a decide had issued a safety order requiring him to steer clear of his household and away from the house. There’s no indication within the police report that the officers knew concerning the order after they discovered Alvarez nonetheless within the dwelling.

A day after their go to, June 23, Prepare dinner County sheriff’s deputies tried to serve the safety order on the dwelling however discovered nobody there.

On the identical day, the Illinois State Police formally revoked Alvarez’s FOID card, as required by legislation when an order of safety is issued. The state police mentioned it notified each Chicago police and the sheriff’s workplace concerning the revocation the subsequent day, June 24, eight days earlier than the taking pictures.

Whereas state police are primarily accountable for eradicating weapons, it depends closely on native businesses. The Solar-Occasions may discover no file of anybody trying to grab Alvarez’s gun.

The one contact between Chicago police and Alvarez after the safety order was issued seems to be June 22, when officers answered a name of a “home disturbance” at Alvarez’s dwelling.  He met the officers on the window.

He complained his spouse wished him to be a “hit man” and talked about he had a FOID card and a gun. The officers “started to place themselves in a matter for security” as Alvarez started speaking about “a number of topics not concerning the character of his name.”

Alvarez gave the officers his FOID card and after they tried to present it again, shut the window.

The officers filed a “clear and current hazard” report with state police for “additional investigation,” however the state police mentioned they don’t have any file of receiving it. The division didn’t reply questions on whether or not the officers ran his identify for any warrants or orders in opposition to him.

Getting weapons away from individuals whose FOID playing cards have been revoked has been a rising downside in Prepare dinner County, the place there’s a backlog of practically 30,000 excellent instances.

There are about 731,000 FOID card holders within the county. Of these, greater than 37,000 have been revoked. Of these revoked, 74%, or roughly 27,000, are non-compliant, that means they doubtless nonetheless have their weapons.

“We speak about gun violence and stopping gun violence, and we even have one thing that we see, like this, that would have truly been prevented,” mentioned state Rep. La Shawn Ford, who together with Prepare dinner County Sheriff Tom Dart, has pushed for elevated funding for FOID enforcement.

“Hopefully, this sounds the alarm louder for the state to place extra money into this program,” Ford mentioned.

It was Alvarez’s more and more threatening conduct that introduced Gonzales to court docket on June 21 to get the order of safety. She cited his consuming, drug use and threatening conduct.

Gonzalez and her youngsters went to stick with a relative however returned to the house on June 26 after Alvarez agreed to go to rehab, in accordance with prosecutors.

On July 3, Alvarez started accusing his spouse of dishonest on him, as he had finished up to now. Gonzalez advised him to cease and joined her youngsters on a sofa in the lounge, in accordance with prosecutors.

Alvarez’s son advised him to “cease or he would name 911” and walked towards his room. Alvarez then rushed previous him and grabbed his gun. He shot Gonzalez and Daniela, then returned to the eating room and fired beneath the desk the place his son was shielding himself with a chair.

Gonzalez was shot eight occasions and pronounced lifeless on the scene. Daniela was shot in her face and forearm and died after being taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, police mentioned.

The son was hit within the ankle and ran out of the condominium.

When officers arrived on the scene Alvarez opened the door for them, prosecutors mentioned. The Glock was recovered from the highest of his mattress with one spherical within the chamber and extra rounds within the journal, prosecutors mentioned. A second journal was recovered close to the handgun.

Alvarez was charged with first-degree homicide, tried homicide and aggravated battery from discharging a firearm. He was ordered held with out bond Thursday.