Cicero Man Charged in Fatal Stabbing

A 54-year-old Cicero man is facing a murder charge in connection with the fatal stabbing of another man, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today.

Just before 4 a.m. on Jan. 19, Cook County Sheriff’s Police responded to the 5000 block of South Luna Avenue in unincorporated Stickney Township for a report of a stabbing and found a man and a woman with stab wounds.

Responding officers learned the offender, later identified as Fernando Zavala, ran from the scene wearing a bright orange coat. Following footprints in the snow, Sheriff’s Police officers located Zavala in the orange coat about four blocks away and took him into custody.

Both victims were taken into area hospitals for treatment. The 39-year-old man, Misael Martinez-Salgado, was later pronounced deceased. The 38-year-old woman has since been released from the hospital.

Sheriff’s Police Detectives learned that Zavala, who had been staying with the victims, argued with Martinez-Salgado that morning before stabbing him and the woman.

On Jan. 20, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved first degree murder and attempt first degree murder charges against Zavala. He was ordered to Cook County Jail custody on Jan. 21 following his first appearance hearing at the Bridgeview Courthouse.

The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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