At Rest
A living memorial to lives lost to injustice, greed, and war.
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In loving memory
Juan “Johnny” Salazar
United States · Aged 14 · Died 10/04/2002
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How they died
Deadly force
Rookie officer Rafael Balbontin shot 14-year-old Juan "Johnny" Salazar after Edgar Naranjo, 26, allegedly tried to scare Balbontin's mother with a BB gun during a home invasion at the house Balbontin shared with his parents. According to police, Balbontin's mother screamed, and his father chased Salazar and Narango out of the house with a mop. Balbontin followed and fired eight shots with his police-issued gun, hitting Naranjo in the hand and Salazar in the back, killing Salazar. Balbontin also shot his father, Juan Balbontin, who was apparently caught in the crossfire. Chicago police found Balbontin acted within department guidelines. In 2005, Balbontin stabbed his wife, Arcelia Balbontin, to death, and was sentenced to 25-years in prison. In 2007, A federal jury awarded $4 million to Salazar's family.
Alleged responsible partyChicago Police DepartmentReported by the cited sources. “Alleged” is used pending verification.
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This record exists so that Juan “Johnny” Salazar, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.
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