Ettore Lacchei: Illinois man, 72, fatally shoots neighbor in head during argument over leaf blower
LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS: An Illinois man has been taken into custody after he allegedly shot his neighbor to death after they argued over a leaf blower the victim used in his own yard. Ettore Lacchei, 79, was arrested on Tuesday, April 25, and has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder for shooting William Martys, 59, in the head on April 12.
At around 7.35 pm on the day of the fatal shooting, Lake County deputies responded to an unresponsive adult male found in the driveway of a residence located in Antioch, as per the press release from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, reported Law and Crime.
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Lacchei's employees called 911 to report the shooting
Initially, Lacchei's construction company employees called 911 just moments after the shooting. The medics and first responders were at the scene before the deputies arrived at the home. The victim who was later identified as Martys was shifted to Libertyville's Advocate Condell Medical Center. He was later pronounced dead, said Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
Lake County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy on the victim and determined the cause of death was a gunshot injury to his head. A "comprehensive investigation" was conducted by the detectives with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Major Crime Task Force and found that the 79-year-old neighbor was the shooter. According to police, Lacchei "had various perceived grievances" with Martys that resulted in the fatal shooting.
Confrontations between Lacchei and the neighbors were a regular occurrence
As per the release, "On April 12, 2023, while Martys was utilizing a leaf blower in his yard, he was approached by Lacchei. Lacchei argued with Martys and during the argument, Lacchei shot Martys in the head."
Lacchei "likely" shot the victim using a small-caliber handgun which was discovered near the elderly man's property line. A search warrant was executed by investigators at Lacchei's home on April 25 and he was arrested without incident. He was then booked into the Lake County Jail in Waukegan.
On Wednesday, Sheriff Covelli stated that the elderly man and his neighbors were confronted regularly. "We understand from interviewing witnesses that this neighbor had confrontations with many different neighbors that live up and down that street," said the sheriff.
