chicagotribune.com
But suspect killed innocent girl, mom instead, cops say
By Matthew Walberg and Angela Rozas Tribune reporters
March 14, 2009
In a bid to kill rivals, an admitted Spanish Cobra gang member acted as a lookout while an accomplice poured gas all over the stairs of an Albany Park three-flat and set it on fire in January, authorities said Friday.
The fast-moving blaze killed a pregnant woman and her young daughter, severely burned another girl and endangered the lives of three families as well as police and firefighters who came to their rescue. The intended targets were unharmed, authorities said.
"It's the stupidity of the gangs. They just don't care," Chicago Police Detective Cmdr. Joseph Salemme said at a news conference after one of the suspects appeared in Bond Court. "Set a fire and hope [they] get the right guy. This time they got a pregnant woman and her 7-year-old daughter."
Jovan Djurdjlov, 18, of the 4200 block of West Leland Avenue was ordered held without bail on charges of murder and aggravated arson in the deaths of Rosanna Ocampo, 23, and her daughter, Itzel Fernandez.
A second suspect is in custody but has not yet been charged, Salemme said. Police have not ruled out charges against additional suspects, he said.
Investigators are also checking to see whether Franco Avila, 17, an alleged gang member slain this week near his Albany Park home, may have been involved in the arson and been killed in retaliation for the attack, Salemme said.
Authorities said Djurdjlov and another Spanish Cobra planned to set fire to a three-flat in the 3900 block of West Argyle Street to kill Spanish Gangster Disciples rivals.
About 1:10 a.m. Jan. 31, Djurdjlov stood lookout on the street while another man poured a bottle of gas on the first-floor stairway and set it ablaze, authorities said.
Police arrested Djurdjlov in an alley near Lawrence Avenue and Pulaski Road on Monday after he was identified as the man who shot a 24-year-old woman, grazing her arm, officials say.
He has not been charged in that shooting, but while in custody, police questioned him about the fatal arson. After receiving contradictory stories about his whereabouts, investigators checked his cell phone records and found that his phone was near the fire that night, according to his arrest report.
When confronted with the evidence, Djurdjlov admitted helping plan the fire and acting as the lookout, authorities said.
Itzel, who attended Volta Elementary School, was named student of the month for November and a ceremony was held in her honor, principal Roger Ted Johnson said.
"She was a lovely, lovely girl," Johnson said. "To me, violence is senseless in any way, especially when innocents lose their lives.
"Tribune reporter Noreen Ahmed-Ullah contributed to this report.
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