Diego Guadalupe Arriaga, a 17-year-old male from Joliet, IL, tragically lost his life on May 22, 2021. Diego was fatally shot in the rear parking lot of the Blue Kangaroo Laundromat located at 606 East Cass Street. The incident occurred shortly before 5 a.m., and Joliet police responded to the scene after receiving reports of gunshots. Diego's body was discovered in the back parking lot, which can be accessed from Jerome Avenue along Henderson Street.
Following the incident, the Will
County State's Attorney's Office charged 17-year-old Cristian Ortiz-Arias, also from Joliet, with first-degree murder in connection with Diego's death. Ortiz-Arias was charged as an adult and faced additional charges, including two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and one count of unlawful possession of a gun. Ortiz-Arias was taken into police custody and was believed to be incarcerated at the River Valley Juvenile Justice Center on Joliet's west side.
The case against Ortiz-Arias was handled by Joliet criminal defense attorney Chuck Bretz, who filed a motion requiring the prosecution to preserve all evidence related to the homicide. A hearing on Bretz's motion took place before Will County Judge David Carlson. Ortiz-Arias remained housed at the River Valley Juvenile Justice Center until his 18th birthday, after which he was expected to be moved to Will County's Adult Detention Facility. Bail for Ortiz-Arias was set at $3 million by Will County Judge Sarah Jones.
The Joliet Police Department's investigation into Diego's death was part of their broader efforts to solve homicides in the city. In 2021, the department investigated five homicides, making arrests in four of them. The quick arrest of Ortiz-Arias in connection with Diego's death was a testament to the diligent work of the Joliet police officers and detectives. The department's success in solving homicides provided a sense of justice to the families and friends of the victims.
Diego Guadalupe Arriaga's death was a tragic loss for his family and the Joliet community. His funeral arrangements were handled by the Delgado Funeral Chapel on Landau Avenue. The community mourned the loss of a young life cut short by violence, and the case against Ortiz-Arias continued to unfold as the legal process moved forward.
