Driver charged in gang-related murder in Round Lake Park
Reckless homicide is among the charges filed against a Round Lake Park man accused of chasing rival gang members in the vehicle he was driving in July.
Carlos Luna Jr., 22, of the 200 block of Brierhill Drive, was indicted by a Lake County grand jury Wednesday on three counts of the reckless homicide, five counts of aggravated driving under the influence causing an accident with death, and three counts of DUI causing an accident with bodily harm.
On Thursday, Luna was in the Lake County jail in lieu of 10 percent of a $150,000 bond, Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko said. He said Luna is an admitted gang member.
Authorities said Luna was accompanied by fellow gang members as he drove a sport-utility vehicle and chased a rival the afternoon of July 17.
Willie Davis Jr., 20, of Round Lake Park, was outside his home in the 400 block of Highmoor Drive when he saw his gang colleague being chased, according to police. He then hurled a landscaping brick into the SUV that Luna was driving.
Davis was charged with first-degree murder because authorities said the brick struck and killed Rogelio Lopez, 18, of Round Lake. Davis, who is in the county jail, pleaded not guilty last month to killing Lopez.
Filenko said the SUV that Luna was piloting hopped a large boulder after the brick was thrown into it, then went out of control at more than 55 mph and struck a tree.
“This entire accident takes place in broad daylight,” Filenko said. “There usually are a substantial number of kids playing on that block.”
Filenko said it took about five months to charge Luna because authorities had to wait for reconstruction results from the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team.
Lopez, a front-seat passenger, died at the scene and five other occupants of the vehicle were hospitalized, officials said.