Indiana Murder Suspect Arrested In New Lenox: Cops

NEW LENOX, IL — A murder suspect from Indiana was taken into custody in New Lenox on Wednesday, police said. At 2 a.m. May 15, New Lenox Police learned of a homicide which had happened in Griffith, Indiana, and received information that the suspect, Juan Guerrero, 41, may be visiting a friend in New Lenox.

Police were told Guerrero may be driving a blue 2007 Chevy Monte Carlo. At 2:17 a.m., officer David Nykiel saw the car traveling on Lincoln Highway approaching I-80, police said. Nykiel, assisted by officers Andrew Dowding and Andrew Johnston, conducted a traffic stop on the car.

The driver, Juan Guerrero, was taken into custody without incident. Police said a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol was recovered from the passenger side floorboard of the car.

Lake County Sheriff’s Department Investigators in Indiana were notified and arrived in New Lenox to continue their investigation. On Thursday, Lake County obtained a warrant for Guerrero for the offense of murder.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Guerrero is charged with murder after fatally shooting Jermaine Salazar, 46, his ex-girlfriend's new partner, on Tuesday. Guerrero allegedly argued with his ex-girlfriend and Salazar about them being late in picking up their foster son from Guerrero's house. Guerrero went to his ex-girlfriend's house with a gun and told her to come outside. She did, and so did Salazar, who Guerrero allegedly shot several times in the torso.

Guerrero was transferred from the New Lenox Police Department to the Will County Adult Detention Facility pending extradition to Indiana.