Emanuel Azan Perez, a 22-year-old Hispanic male from Waukegan, Illinois, tragically lost his life on February 19, 2022. Emanuel was shot multiple times during an attempted robbery in the parking lot of a Walmart Supercenter located at 3900 Fountain Square Place in Waukegan. The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. when Emanuel, along with Desteny Rodriguez, who is also in her 20s and resides in Round Lake Beach, met with two males in their 20s in the parking lot. The meeting was intended to exchange or trade guns, but it quickly escalated into a robbery attempt.
During the confrontation, shots were fired, and both vehicles involved fled the scene. Emanuel, who was in the Dodge Durango driven by Rodriguez, was struck multiple times by gunfire. The vehicle crashed into other cars near Washington and Westwaukee Road as they attempted to escape. Emanuel was transported to a local hospital by the Waukegan Fire Department in serious condition, where he succumbed to his injuries on March 1, 2022, due to complications from the gunshot wounds.
Rodriguez was immediately taken into custody at the crash scene by patrol officers. The investigation revealed that the occupants of the Nissan Altima, who were also involved in the incident, fled to an area hospital. One of the two men in the Nissan sustained a superficial gunshot wound and was later released from police custody after receiving medical treatment. The investigation into the incident remains open and active, with the possibility of more arrests as detectives continue to follow up on leads. Two semi-automatic pistols and an assault-style weapon were recovered from the Dodge Durango.
Emanuel's death has left his family and friends in mourning, and his obituary reflects the deep sorrow felt by those who knew him. Visitation and funeral services were held in his honor, allowing the community to pay their respects and remember the young man whose life was tragically cut short. The ongoing investigation aims to bring justice for Emanuel and hold those responsible for his death accountable.
