Chicago, Illinois – A teenager was sentenced to five years in a juvenile detention center for the fatal shooting of Ryan Arliskas, a well-loved Chicago drummer. Arliskas, also known as “Tygercat,” was tragically killed in 2022 on the city’s Southwest Side. The shooter, who was only 14 years old at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder earlier this year.
Arliskas, 27, was walking home in McKinley Park when he was ambushed by three boys, pushed into an alley, and shot in the neck, leading to his untimely death. It wasn’t until months later that surveillance images of the suspects were released, with one captured inside a convenience store and another on a CTA bus the night of the murder. The shooter was apprehended in March 2023.
Friends and family of Arliskas gathered outside the courthouse, wearing shirts adorned with pictures of the beloved musician. Arliskas’ mother, Molly Arliskas, expressed her profound grief, stating that every song now serves as a reminder of her son’s absence.
The motive behind the senseless killing remains unclear, as revealed by the shooter’s attorney, David Drwenke. Despite the tragedy, the family of Arliskas was only able to obtain limited information about the case due to the suspects being minors. They expressed their disappointment, with Arliskas’ mother describing the teenager as a “vicious monster.”
The sentencing of the 16-year-old shooter to five years in a juvenile facility was the harshest possible punishment within the Department of Juvenile Justice. The family believed that the shooter should have been tried in adult court and vowed to advocate for stricter penalties in similar cases. They also mentioned a second accomplice, referred to as the “lookout,” who was detained but has yet to face trial, while the third boy depicted in the surveillance footage remains unaccounted for.
Amid their ongoing quest for justice, the Arliskas family expressed their sorrow at the permanent loss of their loved one’s voice and spirit. Despite the closure brought by the sentencing, they emphasized the need for continued advocacy for victims of violent crimes, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable.