FBI Searching for Chicago Murder Suspect

Robert D. Grant, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced today that the FBI was joining in the search for a former Chicago man, who is wanted for the April 2010 murder of his then-roommate.

ERNESTO MONTOYA-HERNANDEZ, age 25, whose last known address was 4657 North Avers, is wanted by the Chicago Police Department for the shooting death of 36-year-old Juan Mendez, with whom he shared an apartment in Chicago. According to witnesses, MONTOYA-HERNANDEZ and Mendez got into an argument during a party at a local motel. MONTOYA-HERNANDEZ is alleged to have pulled a handgun and shot Mendez, fatally wounding him, while injuring a second man who was standing nearby.

Investigation by the Chicago Police Department developed evidence linking MONTOYA-HERNANDEZ to the murder. He was charged a few days later with one count of first-degree murder and a warrant for his arrest was issued. However, attempts to locate and apprehend MONTOYA-HERNANDEZ were unsuccessful as it was believed he had fled the state.

Late last year, MONTOYA-HERNANDEZ was also charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, which is a felony offense. MONTOYA-HERNANDEZ is now the subject of a nationwide manhunt, being coordinated by the Chicago FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force.

ERNESTO MONTOYA-HERNANDEZ is described as a Hispanic/male, 25 years of age, 5’9” tall, 170 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He is also known as “Camacho” and has a large tattoo on his left shoulder. MONTOYA-HERNANDEZ has an extensive criminal history and is wanted for a violent murder and as such, should be considered armed and dangerous.

This case is being investigated by the Chicago FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF), which is comprised of FBI special agents, detectives from the Chicago Police Department, and investigators from the Cook County Sheriff’s Police.

Anyone recognizing MONTOYA-HERNANDEZ or having any information about his current whereabouts is asked to call the Chicago FBI at (312) 421-6700.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Copies of the below wanted flyer and the criminal complaint filed in this case are available from the Chicago FBI’s press office at (312) 829-1199.