A file photo shows a crime scene blocked off by the Chicago Police Department. (WTTW News)
A Chicago man is facing murder charges after he allegedy shot and killed a 39-year-old who was walking his dog in a Mckinley Park alleyway in June.
Sebastian Aguilar, 37, has been charged with first-degree murder stemming from the fatal June 30 shooting of 39-year-old Mario Leyva. Aguilar, who appeared in court Thursday, was ordered held without bail.
According to Cook County prosecutors, Leyva was walking his dog at around 10:15 p.m. in an alley off of the 3300 block of South Western Avenue near his own home. At that same time, Aguilar allegedly drove a blue Chevy Silverado, which was registered to his girlfriend, through that same alley past Leyva.
Prosecutors said the two men did not appear to know each other, but Aguilar allegedly pulled over on Western, walked back toward the alley and immediately began firing a 9mm handgun at Leyva.
According to prosecutors, after Aguilar fired an initial volley of shots and Leyva fell to the ground, Aguilar stood over him and fired several more times. He then allegedly fled the scene on foot, but returned later to pick up the Silverado and drive it from the scene.
Prosecutors said the shooting, as well as Aguilar’s actions immediately before and after, were all captured on surveillance video.
Leyva was shot four times — once in the back of his right ear, twice in his right arm and once in his left arm — and died of his injuries. Investigators later recovered seven spent 9mm bullet casings at the scene, which prosecutors said were all fired from the same weapon.
During their investigation, police interviewed Aguilar’s girlfriend and her mother, both of whom identified Aguilar and the Silverado in still photos from the scene taken seconds before the shooting, prosecutors said.
Aguilar was arrested Tuesday, and allegedly admitted to police that he was the person seen on video walking toward the alley just before Leyva was killed and running into his own home nearby just after the shooting. But he denied that he had shot Leyva, according to prosecutors, who said there was no one else in the area at the time.
Aguilar is due back in court Aug. 30.
Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431
