Shooting at Halloween Party Leaves DePaul Student Dead

An argument at a Humboldt Park Halloween party early Sunday left a DePaul University student dead and another woman injured.

About 1:15 a.m., two people were shot at a party in the 1700 block of North Rockwell Street, where a Halloween party was taking place, according to police.

Francisco Valencia, 21, of 5121 W. Strong St., was killed in the incident, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. He was pronounced dead at 4 a.m. at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

The shooting may have stemmed from a disagreement between the people at the party and an uninvited guest, according to a police source.

Valencia, who DePaul officials claim was a very involved and dedicated student, may not have been the intended target—but the shooter was allegedly angry with the people in the house and began shooting erratically, police said.

A 21-year-old woman—another DePaul student according to school officials—was also hurt in the shooting, and listed in “stable” condition at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to police News Affairs Sgt. Antoinette Ursitti.

No one was in custody Sunday night, but Grand Central Area detectives said witnesses from the scene were cooperating with police and the investigation was progressing.