Prosecutors have filed charges against a man for committing a murder on Independence Day 2023. According to officials, Chicago police meticulously gathered video cellular phone location data, which traced the suspect’s movements from Diversey Harbor to the location of the crime.
Judge David Kelly detained Luis Vela, 28, in anticipation of his trial for one count of first-degree murder.
At approximately 7:20 a.m., two individuals fatally shot Leonardo Martinez, a 24-year-old man, and critically wounded his brother, who is 25 years old. The incident occurred in the 4400 block of South Wood.
According to records from the CPD, investigators discovered the getaway car used by the shooters and determined that it had been present at Diversey Harbor just before the murder took place. Detectives reportedly obtained additional video footage from Diversey Harbor, which depicted a man wearing clothing identical to one of the shooters getting into the gunmen’s car. Prosecutors assert that this individual was Vela and point out that his DNA was found inside the vehicle.
According to prosecutors, Vela’s phone location data was able to track the precise route taken by the getaway car from Diversey Harbor to the shooting scene. Furthermore, it indicated that Vela’s phone was present at the crime scene during the time of the shooting.
According to Cook County court records, Vela received a five-year prison sentence in 2017. This came after he pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm and possessing a stolen motor vehicle in separate cases.