A murder suspect and DACA recipient is on the run after allegedly stabbing a young ex-girlfriend of his in Springfield, Illinois.
Gabriel Calixto Pichardo, 25, who is wanted in connection to the death of Emma Shafer. Calixto was granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status at age 15 but it expired in May 2019, according to 2021 court documents. Despite working as a community advocate, Calixto was no stranger to run-ins with the law.
Calixto Pichardo attended college and maintained employment, but in late 2017 he began struggling with mental health issues, attempted suicide, and was eventually diagnosed with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
His obsessive and threatening behavior directed at a former girlfriend resulted in criminal charges in 2018. He pled guilty to kidnapping and was sentenced to 6 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
On October 29, 2020, Calixto Pichardo’s kidnapping conviction was vacated. He pled guilty to a lesser charge of unlawful restraint, was resentenced to time served, and was released on October 30, 2020. He complied with all the conditions of his mandatory supervised release and maintained employment
On May 4, 2021, Calixto Pichardo was arrested on a federal charge of Improper Entry.
A detention hearing was held before judge Mark Beatty on May 17, 2021. Beatty ordered Calixto Pichardo released from custody subject to conditions, which was the recommendation of the U.S. Probation Officer.
However, Calixto Pichardo was not released and was instead transferred to ICE custody.
The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) then charged Calixto Pichardo with removability. As of August 2021….Calixto Pichardo petitioned habeas relief on the grounds that he was denied his constitutional right to due process in the immigration proceedings, because the burden of proof was improperly placed on him to demonstrate that he would not present a danger to the community or pose a flight risk. It’s unclear at this time how Calixto Pichardo was released from DHS and how he managed to possibly commit another crime in 2023, but this story will be updated upon finding that information out.
“I proudly signed the bill allowing legal permanent residents & DACA recipients in IL to serve their communities as police officers. Our military already does it & it’s the right thing to do—no matter what lies the right-wing spreads,” said Governor JB Pritzker on Twitter recently in a reply to Ron Desantis, governor of Florida, who gave Pritzker backlash in a recent decision to allow DACA recipients to become police officers.
This man isn’t smart enough to be president.
I proudly signed the bill allowing legal permanent residents & DACA recipients in IL to serve their communities as police officers. Our military already does it & it’s the right thing to do—no matter what lies the right-wing spreads. https://t.co/BjXHYKMk6D
— JB Pritzker (@JBPritzker) August 1, 2023
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was created to protect eligible young adults who were brought to the U.S. as children from deportation and to provide them with work authorization for temporary, renewable periods.
The average age of DACA recipients is 29 years old.
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski honored the life of Emma Shafer on the House floor.
“As we mourn her loss, we also celebrate her life by striving to create a world she dreamt of—one filled with love, equality and opportunity for all,” said Budzinski .
Shafer was left-wing activist who, according to Budzinski, would deliver groceries to Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network.
Calixto now faces three counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated domestic battery in Schafer’s death.
Senator Dick Durbin has not explained the photograph of he and Calixto that Calixto shared to social media and captioned: “Thanks for all you do for the immigrant community.”
Cities has contacted the Springfield Police to find out if the manhunt is still underway and to inquire into his immigration status.
