A man was shot to death by a neighbor in Illinois while cleaning his yard with a leaf blower, local and national media reported this week.
William Martys, 59, was using the tool at his Antioch home on April 12 when he got into an argument with a neighbor next door, identified as Ettore Lacchei, 79.
Information provided by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office cited by NBC indicates that Lacchei shot Martys in the head.
In the midst of the investigation, it emerged that the parties had previously clashed in various incidents. The nature and extent of the altercation is unknown.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to the home, located about 60 miles north of Chicago near the Wisconsin border, at about 7:30 p.m.
Authorities received an alert of an unconscious man in a driveway.
Attempts to emergency resuscitate the victim were unsuccessful.
Martys was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The murder weapon was recovered by detectives near the Lacchei home along the property line.
The suspect was charged Tuesday with two counts of first-degree murder after two weeks of investigation.
That same day, officers raided Lacchei’s home and arrested him without further incident. The sheriff’s office also learned that Lacchei had sold his home and had plans to leave the country.
“Members of our Criminal Investigations Division have been working around the clock to bring Mr. Martys’ murderer to justice, and I am happy that Mr. Martys’ family can begin the process of closing this chapter and healing.” stated Sheriff John D. Idleburg.
Lacchei remains being held at the county jail without bail. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 25 at 9 am
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