Man charged in 2018 South Shore shooting over pit bull puppies: prosecutors

The Leighton Criminal Courthouse. | Sun-Times file

A 22-year-old man is accused of killing his neighbor’s fiance two years ago in South Shore after arguing over the couple’s dogs.

Cordell Salazar and Earl Young argued a couple of times on Aug. 3, 2018 about pit bull puppies being kept on Young’s fiancee’s back porch above Salazar’s apartment, Cook County prosecutors said.

Later, the two men were heard arguing again at the back door of the apartment building in the 7700 block of South Shore Drive, with Salazar allegedly telling Young to “take care of your dog,” prosecutors said.

Young’s fiancee’s 14-year-old son heard the argument, as well as five gunshots, prosecutors said.

Cordell Salazar

The boy ran to a window and saw Salazar leaning over his apartment’s balcony as he fired at Young, who was walking away, prosecutors said. Young’s fiancee also heard the shots and called 911.

As she went outside, Young’s fiancee saw Salazar jump a fence and run away from the building after the shooting, prosecutors said. Young was struck twice in the chest and died at the scene.

Young’s fiancee was initially uncooperative with investigators and did not want to get her children involved, prosecutors said. Chicago Housing Authority surveillance cameras recorded Salazar coming and going from the area at the time of the shooting but not the shooting itself.

At some point last year, Young’s fiancee came forward and identified Salazar as the shooter, prosecutors said.

Salazar was arrested during an unrelated traffic stop Monday and was charged with first-degree murder, prosecutors said.

Judge Arthur Wesley Willis set bail at $500,000 during a hearing Wednesday. He also ordered Salazar be put on electronic monitoring if he posts bond.

An assistant public defender said Salazar was unemployed but had worked for UPS in 2017 and was a lifelong resident of the city.

Salazar was next expected to appear in court Nov. 9.