Pilsen man talked to attacker's female friend before bar stabbing: prosecutors
By Geoff Ziezulewicz
Ulises Almaraz, 29, was charged with first-degree murder after authorities say he fatally stabbed 43-year-old Rudy Avina in a Pilsen bar Saturday. (Chicago Police Department)
A Berwyn man charged with fatally stabbing another man early Saturday at a Pilsen bar told police he did so because the man was talking to his girl, Cook County prosecutors said.
Ulises Almaraz, 29, faces a murder charge in the stabbing death of 43-year-old Rudy Avina, who was among the weekend crowd at Simone's bar, 960 W. 18th St., according to authorities.
Almaraz was ordered held without bail Sunday.
His attorney said Almaraz was a diagnosed schizophrenic who had recently stopped taking his medication.
Surveillance video shows Almaraz going to the bar Friday night with a female friend, according to Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Cooper. While there, the woman ran into Avina, she said. The woman spent her evening socializing with Almaraz and Avina, Cooper said.
The woman was standing at the bar, talking with Avina at about 12:40 a.m. Saturday, as Almaraz paced behind them, Cooper said.
Almaraz took an object out of his pocket, gave the woman a hug and suddenly grabbed Avina from behind and "slit his throat" with a knife, Cooper said. He tackled Avina, and the woman pulled a bloody knife from Almaraz's hand, a scene that was captured on the bar's surveillance footage, Cooper said.
A bar bouncer held Almaraz until police arrived.
Almaraz, of the 2500 block of Grove Avenue in Berwyn, told the bouncer and the first officer to arrive at the bar that he attacked Avina because Avina was talking to his girl, Cooper said.
Avina was pronounced dead at the scene just after 1 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.
His friends on Saturday recalled a generous father of three who was a well of kindness in the community.
Avina had owned and operated a framing shop for years, friends said.
"He was giving, he was loving," said Norma Yanez, who said the two had grown up together. "He didn't have problems with anybody."
Chicago Tribune's Alexandra Chatchkevitch, Rosemary Regina Sobol and Quinn Ford contributed.
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