Chicago man gets 51 years for two fatal shootings committed while on pretrial release – CWB Chicago
A man accused of killing two people in separate incidents while repeatedly released on recognizance bonds in 2018 has been given a 51-year prison sentence, according to court records.
Eduardo Venegas, 26, pleaded guilty to armed robbery with a firearm in the killing of 23-year-old Rigoberto Rodriguez and second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Dylan Zavala.
The story begins in July 2018, when Chicago police officers arrested Venegas after allegedly seeing him run from a stolen vehicle. He was released on a recognizance bond.
Exactly two weeks later, on August 10, Zavala was found shot dead in an alley behind the 2900 block of West Pershing Road in Brighton Park at about 8:10 a.m. Roughly seven hours after the shooting, cops arrested Venegas — but not for the murder. Investigators would not link him to Zavala’s killing for another six months. Instead, he was charged with a completely unrelated felony narcotics offense, and he was once again released on a recognizance bond.
Police arrested Venegas again in November 2018 after he allegedly got out of a stolen car and ran from officers attempting to stop him for a traffic violation, according to a CPD report. By that time, prosecutors had dropped the previous two cases, and Venegas was released on a recognizance bond once more.
Less than a month later, on December 7, Venegas fatally shot Rodriguez, who had once been his friend, prosecutors alleged. They had a falling out weeks earlier after Rodriguez and another person mugged Venegas and took his necklace, according to prosecutors.
On the day of the shooting, Rodriguez went to Venegas’ home, and the two agreed to go outside and fight, prosecutors said. During the confrontation, Venegas pulled a gun and shot Rodriguez multiple times, then took Rodriguez’s necklace. Police recovered the murder weapon and Rodriguez’s necklace inside Venegas’ home, according to court records. Venegas also admitted to shooting Rodriguez, according to a CPD report that identified him as a member of the Two Six street gang.
Three months after charging Venegas with Rodriguez’s murder, prosecutors charged him with Zavala’s murder, too.
Venegas ultimately pleaded guilty to armed robbery with a firearm in the Rodriguez case and second-degree murder in Zavala’s death. Judge Michael McHale sentenced him to consecutive prison terms of 31 years for the armed robbery and 20 years for the murder, for a combined sentence of 51 years. Under state law, the sentences will be reduced by 50%. Venegas will also receive credit for the 2,964 days earned while in the Cook County Jail. His parole date is scheduled for January 5, 2044.
Original reporting you’ll see nowhere else, paid for by our readers. Click here to support our work.
