FBI Joins Search for Chicago Murder Suspect

March 3, 2010 - Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced today that the FBI is joining the search for a Chicago man and suspected gang member who is wanted in connection with a New Year’s Day, 2008 triple homicide.

ERIC SECUNDINO, age 27, is wanted by local authorities for the shooting death of two men and a woman, and the wounding of a fourth person, during an apparent drug deal that took place on the afternoon of January 1, 2008, in an apartment located in the 2400 block of North Monticello in Chicago. According to witnesses, SECUNDINO and a second man, both suspected members of the Spanish Cobras street gang, came to the apartment that afternoon looking to sell a multi-kilo amount of cocaine. After being told that there was no money in the apartment, SECUNDINO and his accomplice are alleged to have pulled handguns and opened fire, striking four occupants.

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

Late last year, SECUNDINO 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. SECUNDINO is now the subject of a nationwide manhunt, being coordinated by the Chicago FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force.

ERIC SECUNDINO is described as a Hispanic/male, 27 years of age, 5’9” tall, 185 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He is also known as Juan Perez and “Mexico,” and has large tattoos on both upper arms; an “S” on his right and a “C” on his left. SECUNDINO has an extensive criminal history and is wanted for a violent triple 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 SECUNDINO 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 wanted flyer and the criminal complaint filed in this case are available from the Chicago FBI’s press office at (312) 829-1199.