CHICAGO (WGN) – Seven suspects are in custody following a smash-and-grab burglary at the Louis Vuitton store on the Magnificent Mile, but one family’s worst nightmare is just beginning.
40-year-old Mark Arceta of Skokie, an innocent bystander, lost his life when police say his SUV was struck by suspects running from the scene of the crime.
Arceta, lovingly known to family and friends as “Caloy,” was on his way to work for his last shift at Northwestern University before beginning paternity leave. Arceta’s partner, Roanne Masangkay, spoke with WGN-TV by phone as she was in her hospital bed preparing to give birth on Friday.
“We’re having a baby right now. He’s supposed to be with us,” said Masangkay. “They took a very loving father, a really good partner, and very good dad.”
The victim leaves behind a one-year-old daughter and was preparing to welcome a baby boy.
“He was so excited because it’s going to be a boy. He really wants a boy, a son. He was always telling me he wants a son so he can play basketball with him,” said Masangkay.
Arceta’s longtime friends told WGN-TV he was like a brother to them. They called him the “heart of their group” and described him as someone who loved his family, loved playing, watching, and talking about basketball, and a disciplined man who always took his responsibilities at work and home seriously.
According to police, around 5 a.m. Thursday, a group of alleged suspects crashed a pickup truck into the side of the store, located in the 100 block of East Walton Street.
Sources close to the investigation say the suspects allegedly stole close to $180,000 worth of merchandise before taking off from the scene in multiple vehicles, leaving the pickup truck behind.
As the suspects fled from the area, officers said one of the groups that was allegedly traveling in a Kia Stinger crashed into a Honda CR-V near the intersection of East Ohio Street and Michigan Avenue, just around the corner from the store.
The driver of the CR-V was identified by authorities as Arceta. He suffered severe injuries in the crash and was rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
“He had no reason to expect there would be a vehicle doing in excess of 80 miles an hour, running red lights, that struck his vehicle broadside and tragically killed him,” said Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward). “There was also a weapon recovered in the offender’s vehicle. It was a Glock with an extended magazine and an automatic switch. So, these offenders would have taken other lives if anyone else got in their way.”
Following the crash, five people who were allegedly inside the Kia were taken into custody. All five were then taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries before sources say they were brought in for questioning.
Shortly after the first crash, officers also responded to a nearby crash in the southbound lanes of DuSable Lake Shore Drive near the Museum Campus, where police said two other suspects believed to be involved in the smash-and-grab were taken into custody.
According to police, stolen goods were recovered from both crash scenes.
Sources close to the investigation told WGN-TV as officers were bringing one of the suspects allegedly involved into lockup at the 19th District police station, he took off running and was caught several blocks away near North Claremont Avenue and West School Street.
Witnesses told WGN-TV the man jumped a fence into one residents’ backyard, tried to open the door to their basement and was spooked by an alarm, and was caught moments later by police.
No charges have been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing. Hopkins said he believes reckless homicide will be a charge considered due to the deadly crash that followed the burglary.
Anyone with information on the incidents is asked to contact the CPD Area Three Detectives at 312-744-8263 or dial 911.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help Arceta’s family. More information can be found here.
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