Investigators are pleading with witnesses to come forward after a 19-year-old man was fatally shot at a house party in Wadsworth earlier this month, which partygoers witnessed.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 1:45 a.m. on July 1 to the 40600 block of North Kilbourne Road in Wadsworth for a call of shots fired.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and found a 19-year-old who had been shot multiple times, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified the man as Sotero Sanchez Jr., 19, of Waukegan.
Sanchez was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. He died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.
A preliminary investigation shows there was a large party occurring at the residence.
There was a disagreement that occurred involving Sanchez and the offender, Covelli said.
The offender produced a firearm and shot Sanchez several times.
Dozens of people left the party after the shooting and before deputies arrived, Covelli said.
The Lake County Major Crime Task Force is assisting the Lake County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.
The sheriff’s office said in an update Thursday that detectives are continuing to investigate the homicide.
They have interviewed dozens who attended the party but detectives are trying to speak to everyone that was in attendance.
“Investigators are tirelessly working to identify the person who killed Mr. Sanchez. It’s imperative partygoers we haven’t been able to speak with come forward,” Covelli told Lake and McHenry County Scanner.
We believe there were witnesses who saw what happened leading up to the shooting and then see the shooting happen,” Covelli added.
A GoFundMe account created to help the family raise money for funeral expenses said Sanchez was “turning his life around for the better, unfortunately, his success led to a tragedy.”
“The family needs help with funeral cost at this time of grieving, he was a good kid who went down a wrong path,” the family said.
No one is in custody yet and the investigation remains active and ongoing, Covelli said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 847-377-4000.
Those who wish to submit anonymous tips can do so by contacting Lake County Crime Stoppers at 847-662-2222 or by visiting their website at www.lakecountycrimestoppers.org.