Three people who were taken into custody last week in connection with the deadly shooting of a Villa Park teen were released without charges, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office said on Wednesday.
Alejandro Garcia, 16, died on the afternoon of Oct. 20 after cops discovered him with a gunshot wound while responding to a complaint of a man being shot and thrown out of a car on the 100 block of 22nd Avenue. Garcia was transported to a local hospital, where he eventually died.
On the day of the event, police released a statement announcing the arrest of three individuals and the ongoing examination of numerous witnesses. The following day, police said that search warrants had been executed, and the three people remained in custody.
However, a week later, the three suspects were released after CCSAO determined that evidence presented by law enforcement was not sufficient to meet the burden of proof necessary to file criminal charges.
“The CCSAO recognizes the significant impact that acts of violence have on victims, their families and our communities. After an extensive review of all available information presented by law enforcement regarding this incident, the CCSAO determined that the evidence did not meet the burden of proof required to file criminal charges,” CCSAO said in a statement. “All charging decisions are guided by the law, the facts and our responsibility to pursue justice with integrity.”
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