Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and West Chicago Chief of Police Colin Fleury have announced that Judge Joshua Dieden has denied pre-trial release for Ivan Ramirez, an 18-year-old from West Chicago. Ramirez is charged with two counts of First Degree Murder and one count of Attempt Armed Robbery with a Firearm. The charges stem from the shooting deaths of Alejandro Rios and Antonio Delgado on November 9, 2024.

Ramirez's codefendant, Xavier Arevalo, aged 17, also faces identical charges and was ordered detained pre-trial on November 12, 2024. Both individuals are alleged to have been involved in a planned robbery that resulted in the fatal shootings.

The incident occurred when police responded to a disturbance call on W. Forest Avenue. Officers found Rios and Delgado deceased in a Honda Civic with gunshot wounds to their faces and chests. An investigation suggests that Arevalo and Ramirez had arranged to meet the victims to purchase THC cartridges valued at over a thousand dollars. It is alleged that during this meeting, Ramirez declared it was a robbery before he and Arevalo fired upon the victims.

Following the event, Ramirez reportedly sought medical attention for gunshot wounds at a local hospital where officers later apprehended him after his release. Arevalo was taken into custody without incident at the same location.

State’s Attorney Berlin commended the efforts of law enforcement stating, “Thanks to the outstanding work of the West Chicago Police Department, both defendants allegedly responsible for the murder of Alejandro Rios and Antonio Delgado are now in custody where they will remain until trial.”

Chief Fleury added, “While this was an isolated incident, that doesn’t make it any easier... I thank State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his team for their work on this case.”

Both defendants are scheduled for arraignment next month; Ramirez on December 16 and Arevalo on December 9 before Judge Brian Telander.

The public is reminded that these charges are not proof of guilt. The defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.