A Chicago man has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Nick “Pup Tugger” Calzaretta, a well-known member of Chicago’s leather and pup communities, in the Edgewater neighborhood last week.
Ammar Houssamo, 53, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon in connection with the May 14 shooting, which killed Calzaretta and left Houssamo in critical condition, police said.
The shooting happened shortly before 7:20 a.m. in the 1400 block of West Thome Avenue, according to Chicago Police. Officers arrived to find Calzaretta and Houssamo with gunshot wounds, police said.
Both men were taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where Calzaretta was pronounced dead, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Police said two weapons were recovered from the scene.
Calzaretta was widely known as “Pup Tugger” in Chicago’s leather and pup communities.
Windy City Pups & Handlers, a Chicago-based community group, shared a public statement describing Calzaretta as one of its founding members.
“From the very beginning, he helped make this community what it is, not through grand gestures, but through his endless warmth, his kindness, and the kind of upbeat spirit that made everyone around him feel at home,” the group wrote.
A GoFundMe created to support Calzaretta’s husband described him as “a truly remarkable person whose kindness, generosity and gentle spirit touched everyone who knew him.”
Organizers said the fundraiser will help cover funeral expenses and related costs, with any remaining funds planned for donation to a victim advocacy organization.
According to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times, court records show Calzaretta previously sought a protective order against Houssamo in 2023, alleging harassment and stalking.
The Sun-Times reported that court flings described repeated unwanted contact and alleged efforts by Houssamo to contact Calzaretta through social media, dating platforms and his workplace. The protective order was later vacated in 2024, according to the Sun-Times.
Tributes to Calzaretta were widely shared across social media by members of Chicago’s leather and pup communities just days before International Mr. Leather weekend—one of the country’s largest annual leather and kink gatherings—begins in the city.
Windy City Times will continue reporting on community responses to Calzaretta’s death and its impact on Chicago’s leather and LGBTQ+ communities.