Archer Heights Man Charged in Murder of Woman Near 54th and Karlov

A 20-year-old Archer Heights man has been charged

Giovanni Garcia

with first-degree murder in the slaying of a 23-year-old Gage Park woman earlier this month.

According to details released by CPD at 3:58 a.m. today, Giovanni Garcia, of the 4700 block of South Kedvale, allegedly shot Lauren Membreno, of the 5300 block of South Spaulding, in the head as she sat in the front passenger seat of a vehicle parked in the 5500 block of South Karlov at about 7 p.m. Friday, April 8.

She died of her injury at 5:37 p.m. the following day at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Lauren Membreno

Witnesses told police that another vehicle pulled alongside the vehicle in which Membreno sat, and a person opened fire. Police said that they do not believe that Membreno was the intended target of the shooter, according to a published report, which added that her boyfriend, sitting in the driver's seat, may have been the target.

On Membreno's Facebook page, she identified herself as a shift supervisor at a Wendy's restaurant, as well as a graffiti tagger.

A prayer service was held for Membreno earlier this month at Our Lady of Tepeyac Church, 3047 W. Cermak. She was a graduate of Our Lady of Tepeyac High School, according to a published account.

A GoFundMe online page set up to raise money to pay for funeral expenses has generated $2,665 from 57 people, with a goal of $5,000.

Police did not release any other information about Garcia or the crime.

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