In a tragic turn of events that cut a promising life short, 32-year-old John Chi Chi Salazar of Queens, NY, was killed on November 24, 2014. Known affectionately as 'Chi Chi' to his loved ones, Salazar was a man striving to build a better future for himself and his family. He had recently launched a cleaning business with his girlfriend and was remembered by friends and family as a devoted father who was actively working to overcome past troubles.
The night of his death unfolded from a
place of misplaced trust. Salazar was lured to the home of his ex-girlfriend, Kelly Spinelli-Josek, under the guise of a drug deal. Unbeknownst to him, Spinelli-Josek had conspired with two others, Shannon Sornoza and Jesus Matos, to rob him of $2,400 he was carrying. The plan was for Matos and two other accomplices to stage a robbery, even holding a BB gun to Spinelli-Josek to make the scene appear genuine.
However, the robbery took a violent and fatal turn. During the chaotic attempt to steal the money, a struggle ensued, and one of the robbers shot Salazar in the head. His death sent shockwaves through his community, with around 200 people gathering for his funeral to pay their respects to a man they remembered as a loving father who was tragically killed while trying to improve his life.
Law enforcement acted swiftly in the aftermath of the murder. Just two days later, on November 26, 2014, police arrested Kelly Spinelli-Josek, Shannon Sornoza, and Jesus Matos. The three were charged with second-degree murder, burglary, and robbery for their roles in the premeditated and fatal setup.
