A 16-year-old boy on probation for a gun case, with two more gun arrests in his background, chased and killed a Brighton Park man on a neighborhood street last fall, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Ayden Reynolds is charged as an adult with first-degree murder in the Oct. 6, 2025, killing of 33-year-old Alan Maldonado. Judge James Costello ordered him held.
Prosecutors said Reynolds was part of a group driving around in a Chevy Tahoe the night of Oct. 5. At approximately 9:42 p.m., surveillance video from the BP station at 3935 South Archer Avenue showed Reynolds sitting in the front passenger seat before entering the store to purchase gasoline. He wore a black face mask that left part of his face visible, along with a gray Nike Tech hoodie, gray sweatpants and white shoes, Assistant State’s Attorney Clara Malkin said.
Nearly five hours later, shortly before 3 a.m. on Oct. 6, Maldonado and his brother arrived on foot at the same gas station and purchased bottled water and cigarillos.
While they were there, the Chevy Tahoe returned filled with passengers, including Reynolds, and two more people sitting in the open cargo area, Malkin said.
As Maldonado and his brother walked to their home, someone from the Tahoe confronted them.
“What are you looking at, b****?” the person shouted as the brothers continued to walk away, their eyes looking straight ahead. “That’s what I thought, b****. Keep walking. What the fuck were you looking at?”
Reynolds then got out of the SUV while wearing the same clothing as before, pulled out a gun equipped with a laser sight and pointed it at the brothers as they crossed with their backs to the 39th, Malkin alleged. She said you could see the laser beam bouncing off the brothers’ backs as they walked away.
Reynolds allegedly put the gun in his waistband and then followed the brothers with two others.
When they reached the north sidewalk, Malkin said, Reynolds again drew the firearm and fired one shot at the brothers, causing them to flee. Maldonado stopped at the corner and returned fire before continuing south on Rockwell Street with his brother.
Reynolds and another unknown person then chased the men on foot, Malkin said. Prosecutors said Reynolds stopped in the crosswalk at 39th Place and Rockwell Street and fired several rounds. Maldonado fired another shot from further south at Rockwell before the parties took off in different directions.
Maldonado collapsed about 15 seconds after the last shots were fired as he and his brother ran toward their home. His brother called 911 and tried to save him, Malkin said. Maldonado’s mother and girlfriend heard the brother’s screams and ran outside to help as paramedics were on their way.
Maldonado was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
Malkin said several Kelly College Prep employees who knew Reynolds from when he attended the school identified him from surveillance footage. Police also found an image showing Reynolds inside the school, wearing the same gray Nike Tech hoodie seen during the shooting, she said.
According to Malkin, Reynolds was on probation at the time of the murder for a previous aggravated assault charge. That case stemmed from an arrest on March 24, 2024, in which Reynolds allegedly pointed a gun at someone on a football field. During a search, officers found a handgun equipped with a switch that allowed it to fire automatically, like a machine gun, and an extended magazine, Malkin said. Reynolds was convicted as a delinquent on May 27, 2025, and placed on probation for 36 months.
While that case was pending, Reynolds was arrested in two more gun cases, Malkin said.
- On August 8, 2024, officers reportedly found a loaded .40-caliber handgun with a laser sight under the seat of a car in which Reynolds was sitting. That case was later dismissed as part of a settlement.
- On November 8, 2024, officers reportedly noticed a heavy bulge in Reynolds’ backpack and found a 9mm handgun with an extended magazine. Malkin’s detention file did not specify how this case was resolved.
She also outlined several additional arrests in Reynolds’ background.
- On November 12, 2025, Reynolds was charged with aggravated battery on a school employee after he allegedly threatened a security guard by saying he had “three hollow points” and would kill him, then punched the employee four times and damaged computers.
- On November 23, 2025, officers observed Reynolds wearing gloves and a mask in response to reports of gang members causing a disturbance and attempting to break into cars. Prosecutors said he fled the scene when officers arrived but was detained and later released to his mother.
- Previous juvenile contacts mentioned by Malkin include a March 12, 2024 arrest for allegedly flashing gang signs, a reckless conduct arrest in August 2023 after hitting a police car with an unknown object, and a June 8, 2023 arrest after he was found displaying what appeared to be a handgun that was later determined to be a replica. In both cases, he was released to his mother, Malkin said.
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