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Elgin Teen Slain In Suspected Gang Shooting

ELGIN, Ill. (STMW) --A northwest suburban teenager was shot to death Tuesday night in what police say appears to be a gang-related killing.

Elgin police responded to a report of shots fired on the 200 block of Silver Court and found the body of 19-year-old Alexis Huerta of Elgin in a rear parking lot, the Courier-News is reporting.

It was the second murder of 2013 in Elgin, and the second this month. There were two murders in Elgin in all of 2012.

According to police Lt. Dan O'Shea, officers responded at 9:25 p.m. Tuesday following 911 calls. Officers checking the area on foot found Huerta's body laying near one of the four apartment buildings on Silver Court.

Officers from the gang unit and major investigations were canvassed the area into Wednesday morning, O'Shea said. The shooting is believed to be gang-related.

A neighbor across the street, Jennifer Phillips, said she had just walked home from a friend's house down the street when she heard the shots.

Phillips said she and her husband saw, from their front porch, eight or nine people taken away in handcuffs, and three other people not in handcuffs driven away in police cars.

While the apartments are low-income housing, there has not been an abundance of problems from the buildings in the 12 years she has lived in the area, Phillips said.

A Kane County Coroner's van was seen leaving the area at about 1:15 a.m. An autopsy was to be performed Wednesday, O'Shea said.

Police were asking anyone with any information about the incident to call (847) 289-2646. People also can provide anonymous tips at (847) 695-4195 or texting 847411 and including ELGINPD in the beginning of the text.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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