Bond set for 2 men in Addison youth's slaying

Lorenzo Salazar-Cortez was not a gang member.

But he died at the hands of two young men who police allege were so entrenched in that underworld that it didn't matter how innocent their victim if he got in their way.

A judge set $1 million bonds Thursday for two defendants accused of opening fire Sept. 15 on Salazar-Cortez as he met with friends in Addison.

Antonio Aguilar, 17, of Addison and Robert Meza, 20, of Joliet are facing first-degree murder charges. Neither had a significant criminal record.

Addison detective Cmdr. Mark Van Stedum described Salazar-Cortez, 22, as an innocent man who died simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"The victim was definitely not a gang member," he said. "He was with friends who a couple months prior moved into the same apartment that (the defendants' rival gang) used to frequent."

In court, prosecutor Steven Knight identified Aguilar as the shooter and Meza as the get-away driver. Knight said police obtained a court-ordered recording of Aguilar, after developing him as a suspect, in which he is heard admitting the two killed the victim.

"I'll kill anyone who gets in my way," said the prosecutor, quoting Aguilar.

Meza later confessed in a videotaped police interrogation, Knight said.

"He knew the plan was to drive to a specific location where the (rival gang members) were and that Antonio Aguilar was going to shoot to kill," he said. "Afterward, Robert Meza helped dispose of the gun and drove away."

Salazar-Cortez, who worked at an Itasca factory, was inside the apartment at 320 Dale St. about 5 a.m. Sept. 15 when his assailant repeatedly fired from outside the building, through a window, before fleeing. Authorities said he was shot four times.

The shooting marked Addison's second gang-related murder in recent weeks. A 14-year-old was gunned down Aug. 21 in the Green Meadows Shopping Center on Lake Street while applying for a job. Two 15-year-old boys are charged with killing Francisco Baiza after accusing him of being in a gang.

An attorney for Aguilar cited the young man's lack of significant criminal history and lifelong ties to the Chicago area while seeking a lower bond.

"There is, obviously, a presumption of innocence here," attorney Bradley Harris said. "He has family support. They are behind him."

DuPage Associate Judge Brian Diamond set the $1 million bonds after Aguilar and Meza appeared early Thursday via a video feed from the jail. Both men must post $100,000 to be set free. They will be arraigned Nov. 6.