Cicero man set to be charged with murder in Romeoville shooting

ROMEOVILLE – A Cicero man is set to be charged Tuesday with murder after the death of a 15-year-old girl he allegedly shot last week.

Erick M. Maya, 23, of the 5600 block of Central Park Avenue, is being held in the county jail on two counts of attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon, carrying a $5 million bond.

Briana Valle was pronounced dead at 12:03 a.m. Monday at Loyola Medical Center according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. According to sources, the 15-year-old girl was pronounced brain-dead Saturday but was kept on life support so her organs could be donated.

“We will be filing murder charges,” Will County State’s Attorney’s spokesman Charles B. Pelkie confirmed Monday, which was a court holiday.

Police said the 23-year-old suspect and 15-year-old victim had a previous dating relationship.

Court records show the relationship had turned bad at least by late last year.

On Dec. 12, Maya was reported to Romeoville police for making a “telephone threat” against Briana. Four days later, her mother obtained an emergency order of protection against Maya, which was extended last month.

Maya was convicted in 2011 of aggravated domestic battery in Cook County, Pelkie said. Will County jail records indicate if Maya were to post the $500,000 cash, Immigration and Customs Enforcement services would be notified before he was released from custody.

About 7 a.m. Thursday, Valle and her 33-year-old mother, Alicia Guerrero, were getting into their car in the 300 block of Emery Avenue when Maya came up, shot Briana in the head and her mother in the neck, according to Police Chief Mark Turvey.

Guerrero also was taken to Loyola but was listed in good condition, police said.

The shooter ran west along 135th Street, and Maya was among the suspects questioned later that day after police searched the area.

Turvey said Sunday police found a handgun on the side of a house on Hickory Avenue – two blocks west of the crime scene – that is believed to be the murder weapon.

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Those wishing to make a donation to a fundraising campaign to assist the family of Briana Valle can do so at http://www.gofundme.com/6voqbc