$1 million bond for men charged in Addison gang shooting

Two young men accused of a gang-related murder in Addison were ordered held on $1 million bonds this morning.

Lorenzo Salazar-Cortez died early Sept. 15 after being gunned down in a Dale Street apartment. Authorities described him as an innocent man who died simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Police on Wednesday arrested Antonio Aguilar, 17, of Addison, and Robert Meza, 20, of Joliet, on first-degree murder charges. Neither had a significant criminal record.

That changed three weeks ago, prosecutors allege, when the two self-acknowledged gang members decided to execute someone in a rival gang. Members of the gang they are accused of targeting previously rented the first-floor apartment where Salazar-Cortez, 22, gathered with acquaintances.

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. Meza later confessed in a videotaped police interrogation, the prosecutor 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," Knight said. "Afterward, Robert Meza helped dispose of the gun and drove away."

He added: "This was 100 percent gang motivated and, given the randomness of the crime, we believe a high bond should be set."

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 rival gang.

Both shootings were gang related, but authorities do not suspect that one was in retaliation for the other since they did not involve the same gangs.

An attorney for Aguilar cited the young man's lack of significant criminal history and lifelong ties to DuPage County 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 this morning after Aguilar and Meza appeared via a video feed from the jail. Both men must post $100,000 to be set free. They will be arraigned Nov. 6.