CHICAGO (CBS) — A person of interest was taken into custody Wednesday evening in a shooting that left a man dead in the Lincoln Park neighborhood a week ago.
Police have confirmed that one person was in custody in the shooting of 34-year-old Alexander Nesteruk. on Clark Street just south of Arlington Place at 3:58 PM Wednesday, November 27.
Police cannot confirm whether the person arrested is the same man seen in surveillance footage and video released Tuesday.
Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43rd) said the man who was later shot exhibited “erratic and dangerous behavior” and attacked the shooter. The gunman then pulled out a gun and opened fire, police said.
The gunman fled on foot south onto Clark Street, Knudsen’s office said.
Retired Chicago Police Detective Eugene Roy said there are pieces missing from the story of the incident.
“You know, when you look at what happened here, there are three sides to a story,” Roy said. “There’s the victim’s side, there’s the perpetrator’s side, and then there’s the truth.”
The truth remains unknown. But employees at several Clark Street businesses remember the day the confrontation occurred.
The Pasta Bowl, 2434 N. Clark St., said Nesteruk came in, didn’t stay long or cause any damage, and left. At CM Korean Fried Chicken, across the street at 2439 N. Clark St., staff said they witnessed Nesteruk harassing people and getting in people’s faces. He then threw a drink at a car.
Seconds later, Nesteruk was shot. The shooter then left the scene.
“It’s absolutely not the right way to go, and I don’t condone it,” Roy said. “I understand why people are tempted to do that.”
When it comes to the case against the shooter, CBS News Chicago legal analyst Irv Miller said it comes down to what happened at 3:58 p.m. — or just before the shots rang out.
“But what exactly happened in the moment before the shots were fired?” said Molenaar. “Did he act in self-defense, or did he just see this guy walking down the street and decide he was going to shoot him?”
As for possible charges, there could be many options for prosecutors depending on what evidence comes to light, Miller said.
“It could be a murder charge. It could be a charge of illegal possession; illegal carrying of a firearm, which is a felony in Illinois,” Miller said. “So until he is questioned and witnesses are identified, the police cannot close the investigation.”
