COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A suburban man has been charged in a Dunning hit-and-run that killed 34-year-old Jonathan Gonzalez last month.
According to prosecutors, Gonzalez and suspect Emmanuel Diaz, 32, were former friends. Both Gonzalez and his wife long suspected that Diaz had feelings for the victim's wife, prosecutors said.
The men crossed paths about 7:50 p.m. Feb. 21, when Gonzalez drove his wife to a friend's apartment, Assistant State's Attorney Ed Murillo said during a bond hearing Wednesday.
While sitting in a parking lot, the couple noticed Diaz drive up in a 2013 Nissan Sentra, prosecutors said. Diaz is accused of shouting something at Gonzalez's wife before Gonzalez and the woman drove away.
At that point, prosecutors said, Diaz got back into his car and followed the couple. Both cars swerved toward each other, authorities said, but neither made contact with the other vehicle.
When Gonzalez stopped for a red light near Belmont and Cumberland avenues, he got out of his car and walked toward Diaz, who had pulled up and stopped behind him, Murillo said.
That's when Diaz drove his car around Gonzalez's vehicle — hitting Gonzalez as he went, prosecutors said. Diaz is accused of backing up, pulling forward and then driving away.
Gonzalez's wife tried to perform CPR on her husband until paramedics arrived, Murillo said, but her husband was pronounced dead at Loyola University Medical Center.
Gonzalez had several broken bones and a subdural hematoma.
Both Gonzalez's wife and another witness on the scene were able to identify Diaz as the hit-and-run driver, prosecutors said.
Diaz, of suburban Franklin Park, turned himself in to police Tuesday. He is charged with failure to report an accident resulting in death. It's unclear whether he'll face more charges.
Cook County Judge Peggy Chiampas on Wednesday said Diaz can be released on his own recognizance pending trial if he qualifies for electronic monitoring. If not, the judge said, Diaz will be responsible for $50,000 bail.
