Police announced murder charges against one of three alleged gunmen who officials say opened fire, fatally shooting an 18-year-old over 40 times in the parking lot of a Waukegan apartment complex.
The Waukegan Police Department responded on July 19, 2022, to the 2400 block of Samson Way in Waukegan for a report of shots fired and a person shot.
Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Scott Chastain said officers located the victim, Alvaro Ruiz-Casillas, 18, of Waukegan, lying in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds.
Officers performed lifesaving measures on Ruiz-Casillas until the Waukegan Fire Department arrived and took over.
Ruiz-Casillas was transported to the Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan where hospital staff took over lifesaving measures before he was pronounced dead, Chastain said.
The Waukegan Police Department Criminal Investigations Division responded to the scene to investigate and interview witnesses.
The Waukegan Police Department’s Major Crime Scene Unit (MCSU) was activated and responded to process the scene.
Chastain said officers located numerous spent shell casings at the scene.
Detectives working the case learned that Ruiz-Casillas was walking to his vehicle in the parking lot when another vehicle pulled into the lot near him.
One person exited the vehicle armed with a gun while two others, also armed with guns, remained inside, Chastain said.
All three suspects began firing at Ruiz-Casillas at close range, striking him over 40 times, Chastain said.
The vehicle fled the area but was later located in a farm area in Beach Park.
Chastain said the vehicle, a gray Mitsubishi Outlander, was recovered and processed for evidence by the Waukegan Police Department.
Detectives from the Waukegan Police Department Community Crimes Division (CCD) investigated the homicide and were assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), at which time multiple suspects were identified.
A warrant was issued for Anthony Gallegos, 22, of Waukegan, last month for three counts of first-degree murder.
Gallegos was already in custody at the Illinois Department of Corrections for a prior weapons case, Chastain said.
Detectives from the CCD went to the prison and served him on the warrant. Gallegos has been indicted in Lake County on all three counts of first-degree murder.
Chastain said Wednesday that detectives and federal agents continue to work on the investigation to bring charges against the other suspects involved.