Louis Salazar, an 18-year-old male from Peoria, IL, was tragically killed on April 23, 2019. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning outside the Taft Homes, a public housing complex in Peoria. According to the Peoria County Coroner, Jamie Harwood, Salazar suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest, which caused severe internal hemorrhaging leading to his death. The autopsy revealed no defensive wounds or signs of a struggle, and the shooting did not appear to be at close range. The caliber of the weapon used was not disclosed at the time.
The police were called to the scene at around 3:02 a.m. after reports of a man down and possibly shot. Upon arrival, they found Salazar lifeless on the sidewalk. The area was thoroughly canvassed, and at least 27 yellow markers were placed to designate shell casings, projectile fragments, and other evidence of gunfire. A second victim, a 23-year-old male related to Salazar, was also found with serious but non-life-threatening injuries at a residence on West Armstrong Avenue. The police believe both shootings occurred within the Taft Homes complex and involved moving targets, as both the gunmen and victims were running during the incident.
As of the latest reports, no suspects have been identified, and the motive behind the shooting remains unclear. The Peoria Police Department continues to investigate the case, urging anyone with information to come forward. The incident marked the ninth homicide in Peoria for the year 2019.
