Antonio Reyes: The "Redrum" Killer of Chicago's Southwest Side
Overview
In 2020, a series of seemingly random and senseless shootings spread fear across the Southwest Side of Chicago. Over nine months, six men were killed in what authorities have described as a spree of violence with no apparent motive. The individual charged with these crimes, Antonio Reyes, was just a teenager at the time, between 16 and 17 years old. Prosecutors and police have labeled him an alleged serial killer, stating that his victims were chosen at random and had no connection to him. The investigation, which spanned over four years, culminated in Reyes being charged with six counts of first-degree murder and four counts of attempted first-degree murder. Known by the street name "Redrum"—murder spelled backward—Reyes has pleaded not guilty to all charges and awaits trial.
Early Life and Background
Details about Antonio Reyes's early life and family background are scarce in public records, partly due to his juvenile status when the alleged crimes were committed. Born in 2004, he grew up in Chicago. What is known is that Reyes had a significant juvenile criminal record. In December 2019, he was sentenced to three years of probation for aggravated robbery and aggravated battery. While on probation, during the nine-month period of the alleged murder spree in 2020, he accrued four additional juvenile cases for armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful use of a weapon, and a narcotics charge. Some reports suggest a connection to the Latin Kings gang, though the series of murders do not appear to be related to gang activities.
The Murders
The series of fatal shootings began on March 2, 2020. The attacks were sporadic, occurring over several months in neighborhoods like Gage Park, Brighton Park, and Clearing. The method was consistent: the victims were gunned down in public spaces, often while engaged in everyday activities.
The first victim was Francisco Mangana, 31, shot and killed on March 2, 2020, in the 2600 block of West 59th Street. He had just bought a soda from a gas station and was crossing the street on his way home from work. According to his sister, he was walking to catch a bus when he was attacked by someone his family had never seen before.
On April 5, 2020, Palm Sunday, Claudio Cossio, 21, became the second victim. He was shot and killed while sitting in his double-parked car in the 4100 block of South Sacramento Avenue, waiting to pick up a friend to play basketball. A friend in the car with him was also shot but survived.
The youngest victim, Damian Duran, 16, was killed on May 1, 2020. He was shot in the 5200 block of South Homan Avenue.
On June 24, 2020, Luis Davalos Garcia, 26, was fatally shot in the 5800 block of South Rockwell Avenue. It was this murder that would eventually lead to Reyes's initial arrest.
The final two murders occurred on consecutive days in November 2020. On November 8, Jose Martinez, 31, was shot while in his car with his three young children, aged three to nine. He was taking them to buy a new puppy. Martinez was severely wounded and succumbed to his injuries months later. His children were unharmed but became victims of attempted murder in the eyes of the law.
The very next day, November 9, Justin Gonzalez, 20, was shot and killed in the 4700 block of West 59th Street.
The Victims
The six men who lost their lives in this string of violent acts were sons, fathers, and brothers, their lives cut short without reason.
- Francisco Mangana, 31 — Killed on March 2, 2020, while walking home from his job. His family remembers him as a hardworking man who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
- Claudio Cossio, 21 — A father to a young daughter and a baseball enthusiast, he was killed on April 5, 2020. His family described him as a kind soul who put others before himself.
- Damian Duran, 16 — The youngest victim, killed on May 1, 2020. Remembered by his family as a caring and kind person who loved them dearly.
- Luis Davalos Garcia, 26 — A loving son and brother, he was killed on June 24, 2020. He was remembered for his golden heart and ability to make anyone smile.
- Jose Martinez, 31 — A father of three, he was shot on November 8, 2020, in front of his children while on a family outing to get a puppy.
- Justin Gonzalez, 20 — Killed on November 9, 2020, he was described by his family as a good kid with a big heart who loved his mother deeply and was an amazing basketball player.
Investigation and Capture
Antonio Reyes was first arrested in December 2020 in connection with the murder of Luis Davalos Garcia. However, it would take more than four years for him to be charged with the other five murders. The breakthrough in the sprawling investigation came from forensic evidence. A .40 caliber handgun recovered after the June 2020 shooting was ballistically linked to the other murder scenes, providing the crucial physical evidence that tied the seemingly unrelated cases together.
Detectives also found that Reyes was active on social media, and several of his posts helped link him to the killings. In one instance, he allegedly reenacted the shooting of Claudio Cossio in a video, bragging about the murder to his associates. Another key piece of evidence was a Snapchat conversation with the mother of one of the victims, in which he made a cruel remark about her son. Community tips and surveillance video also played a role in building the case against him.
The long delay in filing the additional charges was attributed to the extensive forensic work required to definitively link the separate murders, which occurred months apart and without any apparent connection, to a single perpetrator.
Trial and Sentence
In February 2025, Antonio Reyes, then 21, was charged with five additional counts of first-degree murder and four counts of attempted first-degree murder, bringing the total to six counts of first-degree murder. At his arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to all charges. He is being held without bond at the Cook County Jail while awaiting trial.
While incarcerated, Reyes has faced additional allegations of violence. He is accused of attempting to kill his cellmate with a shank, a homemade weapon. Prosecutors have argued that this alleged incident demonstrates a pattern of violent behavior. As of late 2026, the case is in the litigation phase, with pretrial hearings ongoing.
Aftermath and Legacy
The charges against Antonio Reyes brought a sense of shock and some measure of closure to the families of the victims and the communities on Chicago's Southwest Side that had been terrorized by the string of random killings. The case highlighted the devastating impact of senseless gun violence and the painstaking work of law enforcement to connect the dots in a complex investigation.
The randomness of the attacks left a lasting scar on the affected neighborhoods, where everyday activities like walking to a store or sitting in a car became fraught with a sense of danger. For the families of the six men who were killed, the legal proceedings are a long-awaited step toward justice for their loved ones. The mother of Claudio Cossio expressed mixed emotions upon hearing of the charges, stating, "I really didn't think I would see this day, because it... it's been so long." The case against Antonio Reyes continues to move through the Cook County court system.
