Former Teacher Arrested in Chicago Shooting Case
Federal authorities have arrested a former Illinois teacher, who is living in the U.S. without legal permission, in connection with a 2024 shooting in Chicago that left three individuals dead at a house party.
Giovanna Mercedes Moreno Occhipinti, 32, originally from Venezuela but holding dual Italian citizenship, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on May 13, as announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Occhipinti entered the country in October 2021 using the Visa Waiver Program, which allowed her to stay temporarily until January 2, 2022. However, she overstayed her visa, according to officials.
On the night of December 2, 2024, she allegedly drove two men, Ricardo Granadillo Padilla and Edward Martínez Cermeno, to the shooting location where three people were killed and five others injured, as reported by authorities.
“Chicago police detained this undocumented individual right after the incident, yet sanctuary city policies led to her release without notifying ICE,” said Lauren Biss, acting DHS assistant secretary. “Our efforts under President Trump are aimed at prioritizing the safety of American citizens and removing these threats from our neighborhoods.”
Martinez Cermeno was released from custody in January 2025 after a federal judge concluded that the prosecution hadn’t provided enough evidence to justify his continued detention while awaiting trial.
After the shooting, multiple weapons were discovered in Occhipinti’s vehicle. Authorities suspect that she assisted Granadillo-Padilla and Martinez-Cermeno in evading capture post-incident.
Occhipinti was charged with unlawful use of a weapon and other related offenses on December 5, 2024. However, due to Chicago’s sanctuary policies protecting undocumented immigrants from federal immigration enforcement, she was released without informing ICE.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office ultimately chose not to file charges against the suspects, leading to their deportation as indicated by DHS.
“The actions of Giovanna Mercedes Moreno Occhipinti were premeditated and led to a tragic loss of life,” commented Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Chicago. “I commend our investigators for their dedicated work in bringing everyone involved in this case to justice.”
According to DHS, Occhipinti was teaching at a school in Elgin, a suburb of Chicago, but state officials have not disclosed the school’s name, choosing not to collaborate with federal authorities. She is currently being held at the Grayson County Detention Center in Kentucky.
