Elderly Man Charged with First-Degree Murder After Fatal Shooting over Leaf Blower Dispute

An elderly man has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly shooting his neighbor over a dispute about a leaf blower in unincorporated Antioch, Illinois, earlier this month.

Lacchei was arrested for two counts of murder and is in jail awaiting a court hearing.

Confrontations Between Neighbors

According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, 79-year-old Ettore Lacchei had several confrontations with different neighbors, including 59-year-old William Martys. Lacchei reportedly had perceived grievances with Martys, which ultimately led to the deadly confrontation.

During the argument about the noise from the leaf blower, Lacchei shot Martys in the head. The victim later died from his injuries.

Lacchei was arrested on Tuesday without incident and is being held in the Lake County Jail on two counts of first-degree murder. He is set to face an initial court hearing.

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Calls for Justice

Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg extended his condolences to the victim’s family and friends, stating that law enforcement officers would work tirelessly to seek justice for victims of such crimes.

Similarly, according to CBS News,  Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart pointed out that access to firearms can quickly turn a minor dispute into a deadly crime. He also expressed his commitment to ensuring that justice is served in courtrooms.

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