Cops Name Suspect Sought in First-Degree Murder

Tony Hernandez appears in a Chicago Police Department mug shot from a September 10, 2017, arrest for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.The Chicago Police Department issued a Community Alert seeking Tony Hernandez as a suspect in the first-degree murder of Maria Lazaro-Castillo, slain as she sat in her car in the northbound lanes of the 3800 block of South Damen Avenue on Sunday, October 13, 2024.

"The offender approached the victim on foot while she was sitting in her parked vehicle, when a domestic argument ensued, and the offender shot the victim multiple times, causing her death," the alert stated.

Hernandez frequents the McKinley Park neighborhood, police said, as well as Brighton Park, Archer Heights and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods.

Prior Arrests

Media reports noted how Lazaro-Castillo received an earlier, but not served, order of protection from Hernandez the same month she was slain.

Chicago Police Department arrest records list a September 10, 2017, arrest for Hernandez for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and other charges at 5600 S. Narragansett Ave., Chicago, in the Clearing neighborhood.

Fled From Police

On June 25, 2017, Chicago police arrested Hernandez at 54 E. Balbo Ave. in downtown Chicago for criminal damage to property and possession of burglary tools.

The Chicago Sun-Times noted in Mohammad Samra's October 17, 2024, article "Ex-boyfriend sought in shooting death of mother of 3 on Southwest Side" that although detectives had contacted the suspect, he fled and refused to turn himself in.

Police said that anyone who spotted Hernandez should call 911, but not approach the individual.

First Homicide in Two Years

Police asked those with information about the crime to contact Area 1 Violent Crimes Detective Paul Gentile by calling (312) 747-8380, or to submit an anonymous tip on the CPDTip.com website using crime reference #JH466663.

Lazaro-Castillo's homicide is the first murder recorded in the McKinley Park neighborhood since the gang-related slaying of Phillip Hildebrand on September 9, 2022.