Three charged in West Chicago stabbing death
Three teenagers have been charged in the beating and stabbing death of a 22-year-old man in West Chicago, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney.
Jonathan Jimenez, 19, of Aurora, Alejandro Martinez, 17, of West Chicago, and Anthony Rios, 18, of West Chicago, all were charged with first-degree murder in the death of Thomas Tecuatl, 22, of Wheaton, according to a news release. The three men are scheduled to appear in bond court at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the DuPage County Courthouse.
More details will be released in court, but a law enforcement source told the Daily Herald on Tuesday that a homeowner on the 600 block of South Neltnor Boulevard (Route 59) found Tecuatl's body in his front yard early Sunday. He had been beaten and repeatedly stabbed, the source said.
Investigators believe the killing happened after an argument erupted between the victim and three reputed gang members at a crowded birthday party in West Chicago late Saturday or early Sunday, the source said.
The source added that the victim threatened the suspects with a knife, at which point the suspects rounded up a pick ax and other tools from around the house. According to the source, one suspect struck the victim in the head with a pole-like object, then all three chased him into the street, where he was beaten and stabbed.
The source said the victim appeared to have been dead for some time before his body was found Sunday. Authorities took the three suspects into custody later that day.
Ÿ Daily Herald staff writer Melissa Silverberg contributed to this report.