Cicero Police announce arrest of two Chicago suspects in Potrillo robbery and killing

Two Chicago residents were arrested and charged in the June 18, 2024 killing of Sebastian Rodriguez during a robbery of Potrillo Liquors in Cicero.

The Cicero Police Department announces the arrest Friday of Anthony J. Johnson Jr. (35 yrs old) and Randell Brown (31 yrs old), both from Chicago, for the Murder of Sebastian Rodriguez, 23.

On June 18, 2024 at approximately 1:14pm, Officers responded to a call of a shooting victim at Potrillo Liquors, located at 2126 S. Cicero Ave. Cicero, IL.

When officers arrived, they located Rodriguez with a single gunshot wound to the head.

Personnel began to provide immediate medical attention and Rodriguez was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Suspect Randell D. Brown arrested and charged in killing of Sebastian Rodriguez during a robbery of Potrillo Liquors in Cicero on June 18, 2024.

After a thorough investigation by the Detective and Special Operations Division, with the assistance of the West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force (WESTAF), investigators were able to identify Johnson Jr. and Brown as the offenders.

Johnson Jr. was taken into custody, by members of the Special Operations Division, after a brief vehicle pursuit at 95th and Halsted Street in Chicago, IL.

Suspect Anthony J. Johnson Jr., arrested and charged in killing of Sebastian Rodriguez during a robbery of Potrillo Liquors in Cicero on June 18, 2024.

With the assistance of the Cook County Sheriff HBT and members of the Cicero PD, Brown was taken into custody without incident at a residence in Chicago.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved one count of First Degree Murder (Class M felony) for Johnson Jr. and Brown. Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only charges and are not proof of the defendant’s guilt.

A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Click here to subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania's Columns

Author
Recent Posts

Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at [email protected].

Follow RayHanania at Twitter