6 Random Murders: The Shocking Profile Of Antonio Reyes, Chicago's Teen Serial Killer

Antonio Reyes, a Chicago man now 21, has been formally charged as a serial killer, an official designation announced by Cook County prosecutors in a major development that took place in early 2025. The case has shocked the city, not only due to the sheer randomness and brutality of the attacks but also because Reyes was a teenager—just 16 and 17 years old—when he allegedly committed the string of six murders and four attempted murders across the city's Southwest Side in 2020. This article, updated for December 12, 2025, delves into the full scope of his alleged crimes, the victims, the investigation that took four years to connect the dots, and his current status awaiting trial. The expanded charges, which formally linked Reyes to a series of seemingly unconnected violent acts, have brought a degree of closure to the victim's families, who for years were left wondering about the identity of the person responsible for the random violence. Reyes was already in custody on an unrelated 2021 murder charge when investigators, utilizing advanced ballistics and forensic analysis, connected him to the entire 2020 crime spree, officially labeling him one of the youngest known serial killers in modern Chicago history.

The Disturbing Biography and Crime Spree Timeline

Antonio Reyes's profile is a chilling study in juvenile delinquency escalating to serial murder. His alleged crime spree, spanning nine months in 2020, targeted complete strangers, a fact that deeply amplified the fear and uncertainty in the communities affected.

• Full Name: Antonio Reyes
• Age (as of 2025 Charges): 21 years old
• Age During Crime Spree: 16–17 years old
• Residence: 2700 block of S. California Ave., Chicago, Illinois
• Current Status: In custody, charged with six counts of First-Degree Murder and four counts of Attempted First-Degree Murder.
• Primary Crime Location: Chicago's Southwest Side (specifically the Brighton Park and Gage Park neighborhoods).
• Motive: Prosecutors have indicated the victims were randomly targeted, suggesting a motive of opportunity or thrill rather than a personal connection.

The Confirmed Victims and Attacks (March – November 2020)

The victims were mostly men who were complete strangers to Reyes, often attacked in broad daylight or during the early morning hours. The random nature of the attacks made them incredibly difficult to link until the multi-year investigation concluded. The following is a summary of the tragic attacks Reyes is charged with:

• March 2, 2020: An unnamed 31-year-old man was killed in the 2600 block of West 59th Street. This was the first murder allegedly connected to Reyes.
• April 2020 (Attempted Murder): A shooting incident occurred where Reyes allegedly attempted to murder a victim.
• May 2020 (Attempted Murder): Another attempted murder by shooting.
• June 2020 (Murder): Reyes is charged in connection with a fatal shooting in the 5800-block of South Rockwell.
• September 9, 2020: A victim was killed in the 4700 block of West 59th Street.
• November 8, 2020: An unnamed 31-year-old man was fatally shot in the 5400 block of South Homan Avenue.
• November 2020 (Attempted Murders): Three children, aged 3, 5, and 9, were victims in a separate attempted murder incident, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence.
• Additional Murders: Reyes is charged with three other murders during this period, bringing the total to six people killed.

The Four-Year Investigation That Connected the Dots

The investigation into the 2020 killings was initially hampered by the lack of a clear pattern or connection between the victims and the perpetrator. The crimes were geographically spread across the Southwest Side and appeared to be isolated incidents of violence, making the suspect profile elusive. This is a classic challenge in cases involving random victim serial killers—the absence of a signature or obvious motive.

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The major breakthrough came from a combination of focused police work and forensic science. Ballistics evidence, specifically shell casings recovered from the various crime scenes, were meticulously cross-referenced. This process eventually established a definitive link, indicating that the same weapon was used in multiple shootings across the nine-month period.

Investigators discovered that Antonio Reyes was already in custody, having been arrested in 2021 for a different fatal shooting. Once the ballistics matched the 2020 serial killings, the case against Reyes solidified. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office then officially filed the expanded charges, marking the first time Reyes was publicly and legally designated as a serial killer. This announcement, made in February 2025, was a pivotal moment, finally revealing the scope of the terror that had gripped the community years earlier.

The Chilling Lack of Motive and Randomness of Attacks

One of the most disturbing aspects of the Antonio Reyes case is the apparent lack of a discernible motive beyond the act of violence itself. Prosecutors stated clearly that there was no indication that any of the victims knew Reyes or each other. They were, by all accounts, "complete strangers."

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This randomness is a key characteristic of spree killings that morph into serial killing behavior, where the gratification comes from the power dynamic of selecting a random target. The fact that he allegedly attempted to murder three young children—a 3-year-old, a 5-year-old, and a 9-year-old—further underscores the indiscriminate and predatory nature of his alleged actions.

Antonio Reyes's Current Legal Status and Future

As of late 2025, Antonio Reyes remains in custody. His detention hearing was a critical step in the legal process, where a judge ruled that he would be held without bail given the severity and number of the charges he faces. The charges include six counts of First-Degree Murder and four counts of Attempted First-Degree Murder, making this a capital-level case in terms of severity, though Illinois does not have the death penalty.

Adding to his violent profile, Reyes is also facing charges for an incident that occurred while he was incarcerated. He is accused of attempting to stab his jail cellmate to death, an act that demonstrates a continued pattern of violence even while awaiting trial. This alleged behavior will undoubtedly be a factor in his upcoming court proceedings, painting a picture of a dangerous and unrepentant individual.

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The case is now moving through the Cook County court system. Due to the complexity of the evidence—which includes ballistics reports, witness testimonies, and the need to consolidate multiple murder charges—the trial is expected to be lengthy and highly publicized. The legal team representing Reyes will likely argue for a defense based on his age at the time of the offenses, as he was a minor. However, the sheer volume of evidence and the random targeting of victims present a formidable challenge to the defense. The families of the six people killed and the four who survived the attempted attacks are now focused on the trial, seeking justice and a final resolution to the terror Reyes allegedly inflicted upon the Southwest Side of Chicago.