Chicago man gets 40 years for two murders committed days apart on Northwest Side

A Chicago man, Hader Garcia, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to two murders on the Northwest Side in December 2021. Judge Peggy Chiampas imposed the sentence after Garcia admitted to the killings. He will serve the entire 40-year sentence as required by Illinois law.

The case against Garcia unfolded when police arrested him in January 2022 while he was driving a carjacked SUV. Although the victim could not identify him as one of the carjackers, Garcia was charged with possessing a stolen vehicle. However, a search of the SUV revealed a crucial piece of evidence: a 9mm handgun with a distinctive “Supreme” sticker on the magazine.

The first murder occurred on December 18, 2021, on West Irving Park Road. Garcia pulled alongside 36-year-old Richard Robinette at a red light and fired six shots into Robinette’s vehicle, fatally wounding him. Witnesses at the scene provided valuable information, and surveillance footage led investigators to a stolen Acura SUV in Skokie, where Garcia was caught on video with the murder weapon.

Garcia’s arrest in the carjacked SUV led to the discovery of three firearms, including the “Supreme” handgun linked to Robinette’s murder through ballistics testing. Further evidence from Garcia’s cellphone, including incriminating photos and GPS data, placed him at the scene of the crime.

In addition to Robinette’s murder, Garcia was indicted for the killing of Victor Gutierrez on December 11, 2021, on West Belle Plaine Avenue. Ballistics evidence once again tied the “Supreme” firearm to the second murder, along with surveillance footage and social media posts linking Garcia to the crime.

While awaiting trial for the murders, Garcia was also charged in a federal crack cocaine distribution case involving the La Familia Stones gang. He pleaded guilty in 2024 and received a 37-month federal prison sentence.

The successful prosecution of Hader Garcia for the two murders demonstrates the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in solving violent crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice. The sentencing ensures that Garcia will be held accountable for his actions and serve a significant prison term for his crimes.