Boyfriend fatally shoots girlfriend in head and leaves her to die, Illinois cops say
A man considered a person of interest in the killing of his girlfriend in November has now been charged, Illinois police said.
Officers found 42-year-old Fatima Lizeth Escalante Matamoros with a gunshot wound to her head in Palatine on Nov. 29, the village said in a Facebook post. She was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead, police said.
Her boyfriend fled the scene before officers discovered the woman, police said. He was deemed a person of interest and was taken into custody the following day in Streamwood, according to police.
Sergio Velasquez Fuentes, 43, was released on Dec. 2 without charges but remained a person of interest as the investigation into Escalante Matamoros’ death continued.
Days later, on Dec. 13, Palatine police obtained an arrest warrant for Velasquez Fuentes but learned that he was in federal custody in connection with an “unrelated matter,” the village said.
Local officers arrested Velasquez Fuentes on Jan. 6 on a first-degree murder charge, police said.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 29 and will remain in custody until then, according to the village.
Palatine is about a 35-mile drive northwest from downtown Chicago.
This story was originally published January 9, 2025 at 10:06 AM with the headline "Boyfriend fatally shoots girlfriend in head and leaves her to die, Illinois cops say."
