Status hearing in July for McCook murder
By Steve Metsch
The attorney representing a Chicago man charged with murdering a Blue Island man in McCook in February told a judge Wednesday there’s been “a significant and outstanding discovery in this matter.”
Attorney Damon Cheronis made his comment before Cook County Circuit Court Judge John “Terry Gallagher” in Room 110 at the Bridgeview Court House.
Cheronis did not elaborate.
Meanwhile, the assistant state’s attorney requested medical records of the victim from Loyola Hospital.
The victim, Morales Ricardo Lopez, 36, was allegedly shot to death by Sisto Brito, 32, following an altercation in the parking lot outside a McCook bar early Feb. 17.
Following a fight, two men ran north on Joliet Avenue when Brito allegedly retrieved a gun from his car. Lopez and another man ran south.
Brito chased those two, police have said, and fired several shots, killing Lopez and seriously injuring the second man around 1:40 a.m.
After an intense manhunt, Brito was taken into police custody in Chicago the next day. He has been in custody at Cook County Jail ever since.
He was silent in court standing beside his attorney.
Brito faces one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder.
After Wednesday’s brief hearing, Lopez’ widow, Ana Lopez, was asked about the “significant and outstanding discovery.”
“It’s just procedure. They’re just trying to make things longer, drag it out,” she said.
She was asked how the couple’s three children are coping as Father’s Day fast approaches.
“I haven’t had a moment to talk about that. It’s hard, you know. Time doesn’t heal anything. You just learn to live with the pain,” she said.
They have three children, a 19-year-old son and two daughters, ages 18 and 7.
She declined to share a photo of her husband for this story.
Judge Gallagher scheduled the next status hearing for Brito at 9:30 a.m. July 25 in Room 110.