Alvaro Ruiz Jr., an 18-year-old Hispanic male from Waukegan, IL, was killed on July 19, 2022. The shooting happened around 10:20 p.m. in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 2400 block of Samson Way. The Lake County Coroner’s Office ruled Ruiz Jr.’s death as resulting from multiple gunshot wounds.

Waukegan police found Ruiz Jr. with severe injuries and he was taken by Waukegan Fire Department paramedics to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Investigators recovered numerous shell casings and a semi-automatic handgun at the scene, and detectives said he was specifically targeted. Officers believed the offenders left in a light-colored vehicle, possibly an SUV.

The Waukegan Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division and Community Crimes Division handled the inquiry and were seeking information and leads. If anyone has information about the shooting or the vehicle seen fleeing the scene, please come forward to assist the investigation.