Manslaughter Bail Should Go Down In Crest Hill Death: Lawyer

CREST HILL, IL —A criminal defense lawyer from Naperville has asked Will County's judges to lower the $500,000 bail for Marius Januzis, a Florida man charged in last weekend's deadly shooting at an industrial business in Crest Hill. The current bail "is excessive" for the 42-year-old United States citizen "who suffers from leukemia and is required to take daily medication," criminal defense lawyer Richard Kayne argued in his motion.

Kayne notified Will County's judges that he will be representing Januzis, who faces a single criminal charge of involuntary manslaughter.

The criminal complaint states that on Friday, Dec. 13, Januzis was acting in a reckless manner when "he shot Donatas Bruzga while handling the loaded 9mm handgun in an occupied room, thereby causing the death of Donatas Bruzga."

Bruzga was rushed by ambulance to St. Joe's hospital in Joliet where he died. He was 31.

Prior to his arrest over the weekend, Januzis lived on Anne Drive in Lemont and "was employed as an over-the-road truck driver who also has a residence in Boca Raton, Florida," his defense lawyer noted. "The defendant provides financial support to his six-year-old child and the child's mother."

The Naperville lawyer wants his client's bail reduced from $500,000 to $50,000. If that happens, Januzis would be released from the Will County Jail once he posts 10 percent, which would be $5,000, if the motion is granted.

"The Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution prohibits excessive bail," argues Kayne, the defendant's lawyer. "Defendant is entitled to the guarantees of the United States Constitution, the Constitution of the State of Illinois and the Illinois Code of Criminal Procedure concerning this right to a fair and reasonable bail."

Crest Hill's Police Department led the investigationthat resulted in the arrest of Januzis.

The deadly shooting occurred in the 2000 block of North Raynor Avenue and several people inside the building saw the shooting happen, police have said.