Police: Love triangle led to fatal shooting in Elgin

A love triangle turned deadly in Elgin this week, with one man killed, a suspect on the loose and his girlfriend charged with obstructing the investigation.

Authorities have charged Alexis I. Cruz, 18, of the 1300 block of Dakota St., Elgin, with felony obstruction of justice in the Thursday morning murder of Hugo A. Navarro, 29, on the city's west side.

Police say the murder suspect, Amilkar "Tony" Antonio Caro, 32, also of the 1300 block of Dakota, is armed and dangerous.

Police released information about the slaying - the city's first homicide this year - late Friday.

"It's more a domestic situation than a gang situation," said Deputy Chief Cecil Smith. "The three of them were involved with each other, relationship-wise."

The shooting death occurred shortly after 2 a.m. in front of a single-family home at 774 W. Adams St. after Cruz and Navarro had an argument, police said.

A neighbor, who declined to give his name but called police immediately after the incident, said he had just returned home from work when the shooting occurred.

The neighbor said he heard four shots - the first followed by a short pause and three in rapid succession - and then saw a woman speed away in a white car and two men drive off in a minivan, leaving the victim on the sidewalk outside his home.

Smith said police recovered the minivan Thursday and searched a home on St. John Street on the near east side in an attempt to find Caro.

Caro is 5 feet, 7 inches, about 180 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes, police said.

Cruz is due in bond court Saturday morning in St. Charles.

"She was giving multiple stories to us through the course of the investigation," Smith said of Cruz, who was arrested Thursday morning in an apartment on the 200 block of Dexter Avenue. "This could be just the beginning of the charges. If the state's attorney's office decides, we can always add additional charges."

Police are asking people with information to call (847) 289-2700 or the anonymous tip line at (847) 695-4195.

Anonymous tips also may be sent to police via text at "847411," please include the "ELGINPD" at the beginning, followed by the information.