Detective pursues 'random' '03 murder 5-
RAVENSWOOD Detective pursues seemingly random '03 murder of aspiring actor
September 5, 2009
BY Maureen O'Donnell Staff Reporter
RAVENSWOOD Detective pursues seemingly random '03 murder of aspiring actor
September 5, 2009
BY Maureen O'Donnell Staff Reporter
All murders are brutal.
But even by Chicago standards, the slaying of Barry Cunnane seemed particularly senseless and vicious.
Cunnane, 27, was murdered six years ago in his Ravenswood neighborhood. An apparent stranger walked past him on the street, uttered a "flippant" phrase --and opened fire.
It was "a random act of obscene violence," said Belmont Area police Detective Robert Clemens.
Despite the years gone by, Clemens hasn't given up on the case.
"It's here someplace," he said, as he recently walked the 1900 block of West Leland, where the shooting took place. "Someone has the answer."
Cunnane was killed May 24, 2003. He and some friends had been at a party to celebrate the marriage of two other friends. When the party broke up, Cunnane and others stopped at Konak, a restaurant in the 5100 block of North Clark.
Then Cunnane and a friend walked through Andersonville toward a neighborhood bar in the 4700 block of North Damen. They headed west on Winnemac, south on Wolcott, and west in the 1900 block of Leland.
There, they saw two men, Cunnane's friend told police, walking eastbound on Leland. The friend described the men as African-American and between the ages of 18 and 25. One was about 6 feet tall; the other was about 5 feet 8 inches tall.
At the time of the slaying, Cunnane's friend reported one of the men said something "flippant" -- in a tone like "What's up?" -- and opened fire.
There was no attempt at robbery, Clemens said. There's no indication Cunnane or his companion exchanged words with anyone.
Cunnane, a native of Sandyford, County Dublin, Ireland, had high hopes for his life in Chicago. By day, he worked as a data specialist at an arm of the American Medical Association.
By night, he followed his dream of becoming a character actor in Chicago's theater scene. Friends say he was on his way with gigs at the St. Sebastian Players Theatre Company. He was also a gifted singer.
"His range was pretty excellent," said former co-worker David Olsen.
Jim Masini directed Cunnane and was impressed by his flair for accents and his generosity with other actors.
"He was an extremely intelligent and thoughtful actor," he said.
The slaying shattered Cunnane's family in Ireland and a close-knit group of friends in Chicago.
"It's bad luck to lose somebody to death," Olsen said. "But to lose somebody in a ... senseless way -- it affected a lot of people."
His friends initially raised $25,000 for reward money but have since disbursed it to local charities with the approval of Cunnane's family, said a former co-worker, Michael O'Malley. Cunnane's mother made sure some of the funds went to a mission for at-risk youth, O'Malley said: "She was adamant that [if] she could spare a mother in the future" from similar heartbreak, she would.
Clemens is asking anyone who remembers anything about that night -- ''no matter how inconsequential" -- to call Belmont Area detectives at (312) 744-8261.
But even by Chicago standards, the slaying of Barry Cunnane seemed particularly senseless and vicious.
Cunnane, 27, was murdered six years ago in his Ravenswood neighborhood. An apparent stranger walked past him on the street, uttered a "flippant" phrase --and opened fire.
It was "a random act of obscene violence," said Belmont Area police Detective Robert Clemens.
Despite the years gone by, Clemens hasn't given up on the case.
"It's here someplace," he said, as he recently walked the 1900 block of West Leland, where the shooting took place. "Someone has the answer."
Cunnane was killed May 24, 2003. He and some friends had been at a party to celebrate the marriage of two other friends. When the party broke up, Cunnane and others stopped at Konak, a restaurant in the 5100 block of North Clark.
Then Cunnane and a friend walked through Andersonville toward a neighborhood bar in the 4700 block of North Damen. They headed west on Winnemac, south on Wolcott, and west in the 1900 block of Leland.
There, they saw two men, Cunnane's friend told police, walking eastbound on Leland. The friend described the men as African-American and between the ages of 18 and 25. One was about 6 feet tall; the other was about 5 feet 8 inches tall.
At the time of the slaying, Cunnane's friend reported one of the men said something "flippant" -- in a tone like "What's up?" -- and opened fire.
There was no attempt at robbery, Clemens said. There's no indication Cunnane or his companion exchanged words with anyone.
Cunnane, a native of Sandyford, County Dublin, Ireland, had high hopes for his life in Chicago. By day, he worked as a data specialist at an arm of the American Medical Association.
By night, he followed his dream of becoming a character actor in Chicago's theater scene. Friends say he was on his way with gigs at the St. Sebastian Players Theatre Company. He was also a gifted singer.
"His range was pretty excellent," said former co-worker David Olsen.
Jim Masini directed Cunnane and was impressed by his flair for accents and his generosity with other actors.
"He was an extremely intelligent and thoughtful actor," he said.
The slaying shattered Cunnane's family in Ireland and a close-knit group of friends in Chicago.
"It's bad luck to lose somebody to death," Olsen said. "But to lose somebody in a ... senseless way -- it affected a lot of people."
His friends initially raised $25,000 for reward money but have since disbursed it to local charities with the approval of Cunnane's family, said a former co-worker, Michael O'Malley. Cunnane's mother made sure some of the funds went to a mission for at-risk youth, O'Malley said: "She was adamant that [if] she could spare a mother in the future" from similar heartbreak, she would.
Clemens is asking anyone who remembers anything about that night -- ''no matter how inconsequential" -- to call Belmont Area detectives at (312) 744-8261.
Barry was as liberal as they come. It's hilarious that you're using my dead friend as some sort of fodder on your site. Fucking jagoff.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that it was a surprise to see a comment on this post from so many years ago. It wasn't put on this forum as a political post, my forum is much more then that. I still hold out hope that they find the killer(s) of Barry Cunnane, bring them to justice and that some closure is brought to his family and friends. If anyone has any knowledge of this matter please contact Detective Robert Clemens at Area North Detectives (312)744-8261.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I have been called worse.