An Illinois man has been arrested for hiring a hitman to kill his ex-girlfriend last week in North Chicago.
Cecilia Cuahua-Zopiyactle, 33, and a co-worker were leaving for work at around 6 a.m. on Friday when the shooting took place, the Lake and McHenry Scanner reported. The co-worker, who was not shot, told investigators she was putting her lunch in the back seat of the car when she heard shots and dropped to the ground. She said she saw a dark SUV speeding away from the scene.
When police arrived, they found Cuahua-Zopiyactle dead from multiple gunshots.
Investigators said that Cuahua-Zopiyactle’s ex, 35-year-old Seferino Calihua-Rodriguez, was charged with first degree murder, solicitation of murder for hire, and attempted first-degree murder, as CrimeOnline previously reported.
Two other men — 26-year-old Misael Chavarin-Plazola and 29-year-old Rosalio Diaz-Zarate — were charged with first degree murder and attempted first degree murder.
Investigators identified Chavarin-Plazola as the gunman, Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesman Christopher Covelli said, according to the Scanner. Chavarin-Plazola fired at the second woman but missed, Covelli said.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeffrey Facklam said the surviving witness and other co-workers told detectives that Cuahua-Zopiyactle had been having problems with her ex, Calihua-Rodriguez, since May. The co-workers said he became upset when he found out Cuahua-Zopiyactle had been dating someone else and had begun trying to find out her work schedule.
Surveillance video showed the black SUV in the area 20 minutes before the shooting, Facklam said. It slowed near the shooting location, and gunfire was heard before the vehicle sped away.
Detectives identified the Cadillac Escalade and its owner, Diaz-Zarate, who told police that Chavarin-Plazola had asked to borrow the vehicle that day. He took it at about 4 a.m., Diaz-Zarate said, and returned it later in the morning.
Covelli, however, said detectives determined that Diaz-Zarate drove Chavarin-Plazola to the scene.
Another witness told investigators of a conversation she heard in July between Calihua-Rodriguez and Chavarin-Plazola in which the two discussed the murder for hire plot, Facklam said. The two ultimately decided on a $1,200 payment to Chavarin-Plazola.
Text messages between the two showed near constant communication, including a discussion of buying a car for the gunman. The two argued over the amount agreed to, and Calihua-Rodriguez complained that nothing had been done although they’d been talking since July.
Earlier this month, Facklam said, Calihua-Rodriguez sent a text telling Chavarin-Plazola to let him borrow the gun so he could “take care of it.” He texted again on September 19, telling him to “get it done tomorrow.” He told Chavarin-Plazola he was “looking for another dude” and that he wanted his money back.
Finally, on September 21, Calihua-Rodriguez texted again, telling him to “get it done.” The next day, Cuahua-Zopiyactle was shot dead.
Facklam said cellphone data put Chavarin-Plazola at the scene of the shooting, and he texted Calihua-Rodriguez minutes later that “both girls are dead.”
The three men were arraigned on Tuesday and are being held without bond.
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[Featured image: Misael Chavarin=Plazola, Seferino Calihua-Rodriguez, and Rosalio Diaz-Zarate/police handout]
