Family of a 31-year-old man say they are heartbroken after the father of three was found dead lying in the roadway in Gurnee, which police are investigating as a homicide.
The Gurnee Police Department and Gurnee Fire Department responded around 3:40 a.m. Monday to the area of Estes Street and Dorchester Avenue in Gurnee.
A 911 caller reported a subject was down in the middle of the intersection, according to Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor.
Officers arrived and found a male victim who was unconscious and not breathing.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek on Tuesday identified the victim as Luis Guzman, 31, of Gurnee.
Paramedics arrived and confirmed Guzman was deceased at the scene.
Gaylor said the victim appeared to have been dragged by a vehicle.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) responded to assist in the investigation.
Gaylor said Guzman was a resident of the 3800 block of Dorchester Avenue.
He went outside to smoke and was last seen by his wife around 3 a.m. She did not hear from him after that.
“Our officers are diligently working to gather information and evidence to determine the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident. At this stage, we are treating this as an active investigation. We urge anyone with relevant information to come forward and assist us in our efforts,” Gaylor said.
Gaylor said the incident is being investigated as a homicide. “We’re still investigating all leads and determining exactly what happened.”
Banek said the coroner’s office is not releasing preliminary autopsy results yet due to the “active investigation.”
Nashaly Ramirez, Guzman’s sister, said his presence “filled our lives with joy and warmth.”
“He moved with us to Chicago after a family tragedy, and despite the hardships, our bond remained unbreakable. Luis was our protector, our confidant, our rock. We shared laughter, jokes, and precious moments together, finding solace in our family’s embrace,” Ramirez said.
“Despite life’s trials, Luis never lost his courage. Like a steadfast horse, he weathered every storm with grace and resilience. And just when things were looking up, he was taken from us in the blink of an eye,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez said the family had their “hearts shattered” because of Guzman’s death, which she called an “unimaginable loss.” He was a father of three children.
“His gentle strength, his unwavering love, will forever be etched in our hearts,” she said.
Marisol Hernandez called her brother-in-law’s death “tragic” and said his children now face an “immense challenge” of arranging his funeral.
Guzman’s family created a GoFundMe account to raise money for funeral costs.
The Gurnee Police Department said anyone with information on the incident can submit anonymous tips to the Lake County Crime Stoppers at 847-662-2222 or online at www.lakecountycrimestoppers.com.