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Palatine police describe grisly murder scene

Palatine police officers on Thursday described the grisly scene they encountered when they responded to a shooting in the 1900 block of North Green Lane on March 19, 2014.

Officers found Segundo Reynoso, 36, collapsed in the hall outside his family's third floor apartment, with a bullet wound to his head. Inside the apartment, his 15-year-old son Luis was found with three gunshot wounds to his chest.

Entering the apartment, detective Michael Dibble said he found Luis “curled up in a fetal position” in the living room.

Prosecutors say Marco Lopez — who lived with the Reynoso family for a time after his own family kicked him out for his gang involvement — killed fellow gang member Luis and Segundo, who was not in a gang. According to prosecutors, Lopez killed the son and his father because he believed Luis snitched to police about a string of burglaries they committed together.

Defense attorneys say Lopez, 19, is innocent. They say another man, a member of a rival gang who Palatine police questioned and released, murdered the Reynosos because Luis initiated the man's son into Luis' gang.

Also on Thursday, prosecutors played a videotape statement from Adalberto Gaytan, 16. Hours after the murders, Gaytan told investigators and a Cook County assistant state's attorney that he, his brother Panfilo, 17, and Lopez were watching TV at the Gaytan family's apartment about 11:30 p.m. March 18, 2014, when Lopez stated he had to “handle something.” Adalberto Gaytan said in his videotaped statement that he asked Lopez what it was and Lopez responded with “don't trip, don't trip,” which they understood to mean “mind your own business” or “don't worry.”

Adalberto Gaytan said Lopez retrieved a revolver from under a pile of hats and left the apartment, returning about an hour later appearing “panicked.”

Earlier in the trial, both brothers, who admitted being in the same gang as Lopez and Luis Reynoso, testified they made up the late-night conversation with Lopez after they say police officers threatened to deport their parents.

Defense attorneys say no physical evidence links their client to the double-murder.

Police have not recovered the weapon. Additionally, forensic scientist Scott Rochowicz, of the Illinois State Police crime lab, testified he found no gunshot residue on the black hoodie prosecutors say Lopez wore the night of the murders.

Testimony continues Friday in Rolling Meadows.

Victim opened his home to suspected killer, police say

Palatine teen's double murder trial to begin

Witness testifies gang member killed Palatine father, son

Brothers deny implicating teen in gang murders of Palatine father, son

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