Police say a man is believed to have accidentally fatally shot his friend while they were driving in Waukegan and then moments later intentionally fatally shot himself in what they called a “tragic” incident.
The Waukegan Police Department and Waukegan Fire Department responded around 7:20 p.m. Sunday to the 1900 block of West Greenwood Avenue for a report of a shooting.
Waukegan Deputy Chief Scott Chastain said officers were advised that a person was shot inside of a vehicle.
Officers and paramedics arrived to find a man in his 20s who had been shot and was bleeding.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified him as Leobardo Diaz, 28, of Waukegan.
Diaz was unconscious and not breathing and officers began performing CPR.
Paramedics arrived and rushed Diaz to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan where he was pronounced dead, Banek said.
Officers learned an occupant of the car had walked away from the scene and a short time later were directed by a witness to a yard in the rear of a home.
Officers located a man in his 30s who had been suffering what appeared to be a self-inflicted wound, Chastain said. A loaded firearm was next to his body.
Paramedics arrived just after 8 p.m. and confirmed the man was dead at the scene, Banek said.
Banek identified him as Fredi Aquilar Carrasco, 31, of Waukegan.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the hospital and the home to take possession of both men.
An autopsy performed Monday showed Diaz died as a result of a gunshot wound to the back, Banek said.
An autopsy also performed Monday on Aquilar Carrasco showed he died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head, Banek said.
The Waukegan Police Department Major Crime Scene Unit and Criminal Investigations Division responded to the incident.
Chastain said detectives conducted an investigation and interviews.
They learned four occupants were inside the vehicle when the first shooting occurred.
Aquilar Carrasco shot Diaz in the vehicle and then fled on foot where he shot himself down the street, Chastain said.
The two occupants interviewed said that the group was driving around looking to buy cocaine when Aquilar Carrasco, who was in the rear passenger seat, shot into the front driver’s seat, striking Diaz.
Chastain said the passengers told detectives that they were all friends and that there was no argument prior to the shooting, leading them to believe that it was accidental.
The two passengers were released pending any further developments that would implicate them in the shootings, Chastain said.
“Based on the evidence recovered and statements obtained preliminarily this appears to be a tragic accidental shooting and then a suicide following,” he said.