Uber Eats delivery driver killed near Loretto Hospital on West Side of Chicago

Chicago Police are investigating after a 28-year-old man was found dead on a street in the Austin neighborhood. Neighbors said the victim was delivering food to Loretto Hospital when he was killed early Monday.

At 2:07 a.m., police found the man unresponsive in the 5500 block of West Flournoy Street, near Central Avenue in the South Austin neighborhood. According to unconfirmed police dispatch reports, he was bleeding from the head.

The man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. He has been identified as 28-year-old Daniel Figueroa, of Westmont, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

The ramp from the outbound Eisenhower Expressway to Central Avenue was shut down for hours after the man's body was found as police investigated.

The scene where Figueroa was found dead is steps from Loretto Hospital, which said it is cooperating with the police investigation.

"On behalf of Loretto Hospital, our prayers and condolences go out to the individual's family and loved ones. Our focus remains on supporting the safety, health, and well-being of the community we serve during this difficult time," Loretto Hospital spokesperson Emerald-Jane Hunter said in an email.

An Uber Eats spokesperson confirmed Figueroa was a food delivery driver for the company.

Neighbors who know people working the overnight shift at the hospital said Figueroa was delivering food to hospital staff at the time he was killed.

"I know it sounds crazy, but hospital workers, they order food around that hour; third shift workers," said Alexander Redd, who lives nearby. "He was just doing his job. He didn't deserve that at all."

Redd said two people walking down the street tried to carjack Figueroa. Redd said neighbors were told Figueroa was dragged down the street by those who stole his car. Chicago police would not confirm or deny those details, only saying they are conducting a homicide investigation and no one was in custody as of Monday afternoon.

Figueroa's father, Carlos, said his son loved to fish and was the youngest of his children.

The father said he can't believe this all happened and wants whoever did this to be held accountable. He suspects it's teens behind the homicide and, if so, wants them tried as adults.  

Meanwhile, the neighborhood was on alert after Figueroa's death.

"Whenever we see a car parked out in front, I always look at the camera before I go and ask, 'Hey, what are you guys doing what are you here for?'" Redd said.