September 9, 2024 | By: Grace Hawryluk, PCC Intern

Luis Santana, affectionately known as “Luigi” and “Monkey” by his relatives, was a constant source of happiness and fun. He made a lasting impression on everyone who encountered him. Luis’s contagious smile could brighten any space, and his sense of humor won him the affection of everyone. “He was always cracking jokes,” his aunt Maritza recalls. “He loved to make everyone laugh.”

Luis’s love of animals was apparent from an early age and he aspired to work as a veterinarian. He kept a few animals, which included an iguana, a cat, a turtle, a parrot, finches, snakes, lizards, and frogs. He also had two dogs, Snoopy and Lady, which he cherished. Luis would frequently visit Jules Pet Shop and Animal Kingdom Pet Store in Chicago, Illinois, where he would usually leave with a new pet to add to his family.

Unfortunately, his dreams of becoming a veterinarian were cut short. Luis Santana was only 21 years old when he tragically lost his life on the morning of June 17^th, 2013, in the 1100 block of North Campbell Avenue, in Chicago, Illinois. Around 1 a.m., as he sat in his parked vehicle, two gunmen on motorcycles pulled up and opened fire. Luis, struck in the head, was rushed to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he succumbed to his injuries. Over a decade has passed since Luis Santana was murdered. His case remains unsolved.

Luis had a passion for gaming, playing beloved Nintendo games such as Donkey Kong and Sonic. He then progressed to playing on the PS3, specifically Call of Duty and different wrestling games. In addition, he loved figurines called “Homies”. Zoraida, Luis’s cousin, recalls him collecting every single figurine and their pets when he was a child. “I would get them for him from the little 25 cent machines at the laundry mat and Luis would be so happy. He had them lined up on the top of his dresser,” explained Zoraida.

Luis and his cousins were very close, as they all attended Chopin Elementary School together in Chicago, Illinois. Luis played softball in the summertime in the local neighborhood park district with his family’s team. His aunt Maritza recalls that he was an outfield player mostly, and that he was particular about his jersey number, which was the number three. “If anyone took his number he would not play. He was very adamant about it,” recalls Maritza. He also wrestled in the basement with all his cousins, practicing different WWE moves. Even though he was the smallest, the baby of the family, he would put a mattress on the floor to wrestle everyone.

Luis’s bravery and sense of humor were just two of his defining characteristics. A neighboring boy was riding around on his tricycle, swinging a broomstick around, and trying to hit all the cousins. “The kids did not want to approach him because they were afraid,” Maritza said. Though he was short in stature, Luis fearlessly went up to the boy and removed the stick. Luis was just six or seven years old at the time.

Even though he was the youngest in the family, Zoraida mentioned that Luis always tried to be her protector. “He was always looking out for me and always wanted to defend me,” said Zoraida. Before his passing, she made crafts and Luis would make his friends support her business. She recalls him being very supportive and loving of everything that she did.

Tita, Luis’s cousin, recalls their regular outings to the movies and his favorite snacks. “He would eat Skittles almost every single day and loved pink Starburst as well. When it came to ice cream, orange sherbert was his favorite. Luis also loved the Flintstone push pops and the white, vanilla-flavored freeze pops with the Alligator on the packaging.”

Tita and Luis shared adventures together at Universal Studios and SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, with Tita’s mom, Maritza, and her stepdad. They both grew fond of traveling together and spending time together. “Being able to leave Chicago and having no worries, it was pure peace,” Tita recalls. The family remembers taking a picture with Luis in the Simpsons land, at Universal Studios. With Luis’s love for animals, he begged Maritza to see the Alligator exhibit at SeaWorld. This is where he fell in love with an Albino Alligator and told Maritza he wanted to bring it home with him. Luis also loved the dolphins but enjoyed watching the show with Shamu. “Luis and Tita sat in front of the tank and when Shamu came up—They were completely soaked!” recalled Maritza.

Loved ones remember Luis’s love of food and music. He loved white rice, red kidney beans, and pork chops. He specifically loved his mom’s potato salad, which he begged her to make every holiday. “She would only make it for him and him only,” his aunt recalls. Luis loved rap music. He listened to the song “U.O.E.N.O” by Rocko, Ft. Future, Rick Ross, A$AP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, and 2 Chainz right before his passing. The song now holds a deep meaning for the family and when they hear it, it reminds them of Luis. Zoraida recalls sitting in her car and finishing a Diamond Dotz of Luis, which is a diamond painting kit. “One day, I was listening to music in the car and the song “U.O.E.N.O” played on the radio. I was just so surprised because it is such an old song, and it had not played in years. I felt as it meant something—that Luis was with me.”

Luis was a positive and loving presence in the community, even with all of its difficulties. “Growing up where we grew up was tough and rough. Some days were better than others and he was on his way to big things. Unfortunately, his life was taken away too soon when he had so much to offer,” Armando, Luis’s cousin, recalls. “He would have wanted to be regarded as a family man who would like a place reserved for him at the table, at the Christmas tree, and all of their family gatherings.” Luis’s life was one of tenacity, love, and a forever unbreakable bond with his family, who still remember him with the same warmth and happiness he gave them.

Almost every single person in the family has a tattoo in remembrance as well—Whether it is a portrait of Luis, a picture of a little Monkey, or even his name. Maritza has a personalized tattoo of a rose with a little diamond in it. “When we were at the funeral home, I tried talking to his spirit. I was sitting in the front row with his mother, when one of the little children plucked a rose to give to Luis’s mom. When he tugged on the rose, there was a small diamond inside of it and it fell out onto the floor. It rolled towards me, hit my toe, and I felt as if it was Luis.” Luis’s mom kept the diamond in the end, in which Maritza recalls crying over.

Luis’s family still gets together for prayer, balloon releases, and visits to his grave. Armando created a sixteen-person softball team to memorialize him. “All of the cousins play at a local park district in Chicago. We also celebrate his birthday, either at a family members house or at the cemetery.” The family is holding onto hope for justice and cherishing the memories of Luis’s life. As well as the joy, light, and love he brought into their lives. Luis Santana’s unsolved homicide remains open to this day.

---

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Chicago Police Department at (312) 746-6000. To remain anonymous, and possibly eligible for a reward, call Cook County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-535-STOP.

---

Please consider using the buttons below to share this case in hopes that someone, somewhere will come forward and give this victim and family the answers they need and the justice they deserve.

If you have a loved one that is the victim of an unsolved homicide, please submit their case here for consideration in a future Cold Case Spotlight post.