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Federal authorities arrested a former Illinois teacher on Monday for her alleged role in a 2024 mass shooting at a Chicago house party.
Giovanna Mercedes Moreno Occhipinti, 32, remains in custody following an operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on May 13.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the arrest of the Venezuelan national, who also holds Italian citizenship.
Records show Occhipinti entered the United States in October 2021 under the Visa Waiver Program.
She was required to depart by January 2, 2022, but remained in the country after overstaying her visa.
According to Fox News, the suspect previously worked as a teacher at an unspecified school in the Chicago suburb of Elgin.
Illinois officials have reportedly declined to identify the specific school to federal authorities.
The shooting occurred on December 2, 2024, leaving three people dead and five others injured.
Authorities allege that Occhipinti drove two gunmen, Ricardo Granadillo Padilla and Edward Martinez Cermeno, to the scene of the attack.
Investigators discovered multiple weapons inside Occhipinti’s vehicle immediately following the incident.
Officials believe the suspect assisted the two men in evading law enforcement after the shooting took place.
The Chicago Police Department originally arrested Occhipinti on December 5, 2024, on weapons-related charges.
However, DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated that local sanctuary policies allowed her release without notifying federal immigration authorities.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s office ultimately declined to prosecute the suspects, according to the DHS report.
Granadillo Padilla and Martinez Cermeno were eventually deported from the country.
Martinez Cermeno had previously been released from ICE custody in January 2025 after a federal judge ruled that prosecutors failed to meet the burden of proof for continued incarceration.
“Giovanna Mercedes Moreno Occhipinti’s actions were calculated and deliberate, leading to the loss of three lives,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino.
Occhipinti is currently detained at the Grayson County Detention Center in Leitchfield, Kentucky.
Community Safety Awareness
Public safety experts recommend that residents remain vigilant regarding their surroundings during large social gatherings or house parties. If you observe suspicious activity, such as unknown individuals carrying weapons or vehicles loitering near residential events, contact local law enforcement immediately. Reporting concerning behavior early can assist authorities in preventing violent incidents before they escalate.
