Anthony Calderon

Anthony Calderon

UPDATE: Bedford Park man, girlfriend charged with plotting Bridgeview father’s murder

dvn 5 18 24 arturo cantu e1716074020920

Arturo Cantu

By Bob Bong

A Bedford Park man and the victim’s girlfriend have been charged in the shooting death of Arturo Cantu last Wednesday.

Bridgeview police arrested Anthony Calderon, 20, of the 7700 block of 65th Place, Friday night. He allegedly confessed to the murder and reportedly led police to the weapon used in the shooting and the clothes he was wearing when the incident occurred.

On Saturday, after an intensive investigation, Agnieszka Rydzewski, 33, of Bridgeview, the girlfriend of Cantu, 39,  who was murdered Wednesday morning while leaving for work, was charged with Solicitation to Commit Murder.

Rydzewski was a co-worker of Calderon at a local McDonald’s restaurant.

Charges against Rydzewski were approved by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Saturday evening.

dvn 5 18 24 Agnieszka Rydzewski

Agnieszka Rydzewski

She was scheduled for an initial court hearing at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Leighton Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave., Chicago.

Cantu, 39, was shot twice as he left his apartment in the 7300 block of 79th Street at 5 a.m. May 15 on his way to work. He was walking to his car, which he had remote started, when he was attacked.

Bridgeview Police Chief said Cantu’s body was found on the side of his apartment building where he was pronounced dead at the scene. A small knife was found in his hand.

Joined by the Major Crime Task Force, the Bridgeview Police were able to secure video from nearby business establishments to help identify and lead them to the suspect who was arrested Friday.

Murder charges against Calderon were approved by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office late Friday night, May 17.

Mancha said that the shooting was an isolated incident and that the investigation into the reason for the assault and killing are under continued investigation.

Calderon appeared in bond court at 26th and California on Saturday. He is due back in court next week.

Prosecutors said the attack was premeditated, and Calderon allegedly targeted Cantu because he was in a secret relationship with the victim’s girlfriend.

Cantu was divorced and has two children who live with their mother in Chicago.

Both Cantu’s ex-wife and his parents are trying to raise funds for his funeral.

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