Thread: 2 charged in weekend murder

Two charged in weekend murder

By Matt Hanley
Staff Writer

AURORA — Two men have been charged in the slaying of a 19-year-old Auroran who was killed Saturday morning on the city's near East Side.

Ernesto Valle, 18, of the 500 block of Columbia Street, Aurora, and Hector Delgado, 18, of 2400 block of Hartfield Drive, Montgomery, each face two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Jessie Lozano.

According to police, Lozano was driving a friend's pickup truck near Grove and Kendall streets at 2:52 a.m. Saturday. Police said Delgado dropped Valle off in the area, and Valle then shot Lozano several times at close range.

After the shots were fired, the pickup truck rolled south for about a half-block in reverse at a low speed, crossed a sidewalk on the west side of the street, and came to rest against a fence. Lozano was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the murder was gang related.

Delgado was arrested at about 9:07 p.m. Saturday night during a traffic stop near Claim and Union streets by Aurora's gang investigation unit. Delgado was also charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to signal and driving with an obstructed windshield, police said.

Valle was arrested at about 2 a.m. Sunday at his home, police said.

"The charges in this case were due to one thing: the determination of our investigators and officers," said Police Chief Bill Powell. "When this shooting occurred, we basically had very little information and hardly any leads, but everyone who worked it showed tremendous tenacity."

This is the second murder in Aurora during 2006; a suspect was arrested in the January murder of Antoine Bell.

Lozano grew up in Aurora and attended Cowherd Middle School and East Aurora High School. Family members said he worked a little after leaving high school early, but dreamed of joining a band.

Lozano's aunt said Monday that he sang beautifully, especially the Mexican music he loved.

"He absolutely loved music," said Estella Valdez. "He always had (that talent) since he was small. He could pick up lyrics and music after the first time he saw them."

Lozano had previous troubles with the law. During 2005, Lozano was wanted by Aurora police for allegedly holding an ex-girlfriend against her will for approximately 40 hours, repeatedly threatening and beating her before she was able to escape.

Lozano's family insisted that, although police say the shooting was gang motivated, Lozano was not a member of a gang.

"He was affiliated with some people who may have been, but he was not a gang member," Margo Griffin, a close friend of the family, said. "He wasn't a bad kid, he really wasn't. He had dreams just like everybody else."

08/15/06

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/city/2_1_AU15_LOZANO_S10815.htm

Are they illegal immigrants?

I'm not sure if they are illegal....but the topics listed under general discussion include gangs. Plus considering the area and the unwillingness to use the word illegal in their articles ......it's a pretty good shot they are.