Man Pleads Not Guilty To Killing Romeoville Girl
JOLIET, Ill. (STMW) -- A Cicero man accused of killing a 15-year-old girl in southwest suburban Romeoville last week has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge.
Erick Maya, 23, entered his plea Tuesday before Will County Circuit Court Judge Roger Rickmon. Maya is being held at the county jail under $5 million bail.
Maya shot the girl in the head and neck, then shot her 33-year-old mother in the neck as they got into a sport utility vehicle outside their home about 7 a.m., Thursday, according to Romeoville Police Chief Mark Turvey.
The girl died from her wounds on Saturday.
"Based on her passing, we've now filed murder charges," Assistant State's Attorney Jim Long said in court Tuesday.
The mother remains hospitalized in good condition, police said.
Maya and Briana Valle, who was a freshman at Romeoville High School, previously had dated, but the relationship turned sour and an order of protection was filed against Maya in December for an alleged phone threat, according to court records.
State's attorney's office spokesman Charles Pelkie said Maya also was convicted of aggravated domestic battery in Cook County in 2011.
Rickmon set Maya's next court hearing for March 11.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
