Hernando L Caster

Hernando L. Caster, a 38-year-old African-American man, was a resident of Chicago’s West Side, living in the 5300 block of West Washington Boulevard. His life was tragically cut short on the evening of Friday, October 28, 2016, in a shooting that marked the start of what would become the city's deadliest weekend of that year.

The fatal encounter happened at approximately 9 p.m. in the Austin neighborhood, a community on the far West Side of Chicago. Caster was walking on a sidewalk in the 4900 block of West Huron Street, an area characterized by its mix of brick apartment buildings and single-family homes. According to Chicago Police, two male assailants approached him on foot and opened fire. Caster was struck multiple times, sustaining gunshot wounds to his back as well as his left and right thighs. Emergency services were called to the scene, and he was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition. Despite the urgent efforts of the medical team, Hernando Caster succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 10:58 p.m.

The Chicago Police Department immediately began a homicide investigation. Early in the investigation, authorities stated their belief that the shooting was gang-related, although no further details regarding a specific motive or the identities of the gunmen were released to the public. The police have not announced any persons of interest or described any potential surveillance evidence that may have been recovered from the area. The case remains an open investigation, but updates on its progress have not been forthcoming.

Caster’s murder was the first in a weekend of relentless gun violence that gripped the city. As Chicagoans celebrated Halloween festivities and the excitement of the Cubs' historic World Series run, a starkly different reality unfolded on many city streets. By the end of that weekend, at least 17 people had been killed and another 41 were wounded in shootings across Chicago, making it the most violent weekend of 2016. This spike was part of a larger, troubling trend; by the end of that year, the city’s homicide total would climb past 750, a number not seen in decades.

The Austin community area, where Caster lost his life, is one of Chicago's largest neighborhoods by both population and area. It is a place of historic architecture and deep community roots for many of its residents. However, it has also long been one of the neighborhoods most profoundly affected by the city's ongoing struggles with violent crime. The circumstances of Caster's death underscored the persistent challenges and dangers that residents in this part of the city faced daily.

The weekend Caster was killed was a study in contrasts for Chicago. While much of the city was united in celebration, the families of more than a dozen victims were plunged into mourning. His death, and the many others that weekend, served as a grim reminder of the epidemic of violence that continued to claim lives, often with little public resolution.

As of the latest available reports, no arrests have been made in the murder of Hernando Caster. His case joins a long list of unsolved homicides in Chicago from a particularly violent year, leaving a family without answers and a community searching for justice. The investigation remains in the hands of the Chicago Police Department.