Cicero liquor store employee shot dead in attempted burglary

A liquor store employee in Cicero was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon while trying to stop two customers from stealing a bottle of alcohol.

Authorities say Sebastian Rodriguez, 23, was shot in the head around 1:15 p.m. while working at Licores El Potrillo, located in the 2100 block of Cicero Avenue South.

“Two guys came in, took a bottle and (Sebastian) followed them to stop them from taking it,” said store manager Norma Brito, mourning her colleague in front of a small memorial set up in the store’s parking lot.

“That’s when the other guy shot him,” she said. “For a bottle, on a bottle. Just a simple bottle.

Although the suspects initially fled the scene, Cicero police said two people of interest are currently in custody.

Charges in Rodriguez’s murder have not yet been announced.

Rodriguez, the older brother of a large family, worked at the store to support his loved ones.

His family has started a fundraiser to help pay for the funeral.

“Honestly, I don’t feel safe. One day we are there, the next day we are not. It’s scary knowing you can’t go home,” Brito said.

Police have not released the identities of the two people arrested.