Man charged in gang-related killing of 15-year-old Chicago girl in 2016

CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago man has been charged with killing a teenage girl in 2016 to boost his standing in a gang, federal authorities said Friday.

A grand jury indicted Patrick Johnson on a charge of murder in aid of racketeering.

Johnson, 27, is accused of shooting Veronica Lopez, 15, while the girl was riding in an SUV on Lake Shore Drive during the 2016 Memorial Day weekend. Authorities said another car pulled up alongside the SUV she was riding in on Lake Shore Drive near Fullerton and opened fire. Several shots hit Lopez through the passenger side. The driver was shot twice but managed to drive to St. Joseph’s hospital in Lincoln Park.

Lopez was rushed to Illinois Masonic, where she later died. The driver of the car had known gang ties, according to police.

Dozens of people were shot in Chicago and at least six died over that three-day period.

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“The indictment alleges that the Milwaukee Kings is a criminal organization whose members and associates engaged in narcotics trafficking and committed acts of violence, including murder and assault, to acquire and preserve the gang’s territory,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Johnson was arrested Friday. No lawyer was listed yet in the federal case file.