CHICAGO PRIEST REMOVED PENDING INVESTIGATION

A Chicago priest has been removed from his duties pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct involving a minor.

The Rev. Gary Graf was removed as pastor of San Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio Parish, according to a letter to parishioners on Saturday from Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago.

Graf was removed pending an investigation into “an allegation of code of conduct violations involving a minor,” according to the letter.

The parish is a group of three churches — St. Philomena in the Hermosa neighborhood, Maternity BVM in the Humboldt Park neighborhood and St. Francis Assisi in the University Village neighborhood — that have merged into one, according to Susan Thomas, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Thomas said the investigation was being conducted by independent, public agencies, but that the archdiocese would also conduct its own investigation.

“While we do not have the full details on the allegation, Father Graf has agreed to step aside while it is [investigated] thoroughly,” Cupich said in the letter. “Please know that I am close to you in prayer. My simple request is that God grant you the grace of patience as we work to evaluate this allegation. Only in this way can we remain true to our promise to safeguard our parishioners, especially children and youth, our most important concern.”

Cupich promised to keep parishioners informed of any developments.

Graf made news in January when he announced a hunger strike in support of undocumented immigrants and of “dreamers.”

Bishop Alberto Rojas is set to serve as administrator of the parish, according to the archdiocese.

Matthew Hendrickson

2 shot on Dan Ryan Expy.

Two men were seriously wounded in a shooting early Monday on the Dan Ryan Expressway on the South Side, police said.

Shortly after 1 a.m., a white SUV was traveling in the outbound lanes of the expressway near Garfield Boulevard when a black car pulled up and multiple people inside opened fire, according to Illinois State police.

The SUV pulled off to the shoulder and hit a concrete barrier next to the Red Line stop at Garfield, police said. The black car sped off.

Police and paramedics showed up and took two men with gunshot wounds to the University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt said.

State police said their conditions were serious. Three other passengers in the SUV were not injured, police said.

David Struett

Multiple people taken into custody in Sauganash for Winnetka armed robbery

Multiple people wanted in connection with an armed robbery Monday afternoon in Winnetka were taken into custody in the Sauganash neighborhood on the Northwest Side.

Officers from Winnetka responded about 4:15 p.m. to a call of an armed robbery in the 900 block of Ash Street in the northern suburb, according to Winnetka police Chief Marc Hornstein. When they arrived, officers were given a description of a vehicle that was used in the robbery.

A Wilmette police officer later saw a vehicle matching the description and followed it south on the Edens Expressway, Hornstein said. The officer then pulled the vehicle over near the intersection of Cicero and Peterson avenues.

About 4:30 p.m., Winnetka police and Chicago police responded to the scene after the vehicle had been stopped, Hornstein and CPD News Affairs Officer Michelle Tannehill said. Multiple people were taken into custody, Hornstein said.

Tom Schuba

Man, 18, fatally hit in South Barrington

An 18-year-old man died Saturday after being struck by a vehicle in northwest suburban South Barrington.

Jake Brummitt, of Mount Prospect, was a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle in the first block of North Barrington Road, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Brummitt was pronounced dead at 9:38 p.m. Saturday, the medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy Monday found he died of multiple injuries from being struck by a vehicle and his death was ruled an accident.

Sun-Times Wire