Chicago Man Beaten To Death While Hanging Christmas Lights

The neighbor who rushed to help Tellez and his daughter told The Chicago Sun-Times that she heard the child scream, "My dad, my dad, he’s hurt!"

"I told her to get a blanket to put on his head. There was a lot of blood," the neighbor said, adding that she did what she could to help the unfortunate man and keep his daughter calm.

Tellez was breathing when he was put in an ambulance, but he wasn't moving. He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in critical condition, and later pronounced dead.

The neighbor who tried to help Tellez and his daughter said she was "traumatized" by the event -- others in the community feel the same.

Silverio Nodal, who lives down the street, told the outlet he knew Tellez for around 10 years and described him as a "family man, a hard-working guy" who did landscaping work and loved gardening.

"He came here to provide the best for his family, you know as all of us do, the American dream. But this is not the American dream," Nodal said.

Nodal said that Tellez's murder was a "big shock for all of us" in the community.

"It’s a shame. This is supposed to be the best season, the Christmas season. It’s a family thing. These things shouldn’t be happening," he stated.

Nodal added that everyone on the block is now working together to coordinate a contact list so that any suspicious activity in the neighborhood can be reported.

"Something must be done, should be done. It’s not only the police work. We as individuals, what can we do for our neighbors, what are we contributing?" he concluded.

Tellez's niece Daisy Castro has started a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help pay for funeral expenses.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the campaign has raised over $40,000.

"On the night of December 11, 2021, our beloved family member Jose Eleazar Téllez, was attacked and brutally beaten while putting up Christmas lights outside his home," the page says.

"He was a loving husband, father, brother and son. He leaves behind a wife and three children. At this time we kindly ask for prayers and if you are able to, any donation is greatly appreciated," it continues.