Highland Park Teen Faces First-Degree Murder Charge In Fatal Shooting

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — A Highland Park boy has been charged as an adult first-degree murder in Sunday's fatal shooting of Omar Diaz on a Green Bay Road sidewalk, authorities said.

Estiven Sarminento, 16, had been involved in an "ongoing dispute" with Diaz, a 16-year-old Highwood resident, according to a spokesperson for the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force.

On Sunday, Sarminento approached Diaz and the two spoke briefly before Sarminento pulled out a gun and shot Diaz in what authorities have described as a "targeted and not random" attack.

Diaz was taken to Highland Park Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The preliminary results of an autopsy conducted Monday indicate that he died as a result of a gunshot wound, according to the Lake County Coroner's Office.

Sarminento fled after the shooting and, although a police dog traced his scene to a nearby road, he managed to escape the perimeter that police had established around the scene.

Highland Park police called in the major crimes task force to assist in the investigation.

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Detectives later identified Sarminento as the shooter with the help of witness interviews, video surveillance and other recovered evidence from the scene.

Sarminento, who was arrested around noon Monday, is due in court Tuesday in Waukegan for a detention hearing.

No further information about where Sarmiento was arrested or the nature of his dispute with Diaz was immediately available from a task force spokesperson.

Diaz was a student at Highland Park High School, and had been due to start class on Wednesday, according to school officials.

Administrators said there would be increased security and a greater police presence at the school, which is set to begin implementing a weapons detection system.

Earlier: Highwood Boy, 16, Shot Dead In Highland Park, Gunman At Large: Police