Murder Charges Filed in Connection With Joliet Man's Stabbing Death

A Joliet teen jailed for allegedly stabbing a man during a dispute over $40 of bad marijuana was charged with murder Tuesday afternoon.

Rodolfo Trujillo, 19, faces two counts of murder in connection with the death of 25-year-old Rudy Valdez.

A second man allegedly involved in the altercation with Valdez, 20-year-old Oracio Loera, was charged with felony mob action.

Police sent to break up a fight on Reflection Court on the far west side found Valdez bleeding from his belly in a yard about 10 p.m. Sunday.

Valdez was taken to Presence St. Joseph Medical Center where he clung to life for nearly 19 hours before succumbing to his wounds.

Another 19-year-old allegedly involved in the altercation with Valdez ended up getting stabbed in the pelvis. The wounded teen was fighting alongside Trujillo and Loera when Trujillo inadvertently stabbed him, police said.

The wounded teen fled the scene in a black Jeep, police said. He was located after the Jeep crashed during his getaway.

That teen was taken to Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora.

A friend of Valdez set up a Go Fund Me page to defray the cost of his funeral and to provide for his two daughters.

“As you all know, Rudy was unexpectly taken away from us,” the page says. He leaves behind alot of family, friends that turned into family, and two beautiful daughters. I’d like to try and raise money for his family to help with funeral areangments , and his daughters future needs and education. Anything is better than nothing at all. Rest in peace Rudy. As you know, life is too short. Tell everyone you care about, that you love them. God bless.”

By the time Trujillo had been charged with murder, the page had raised $1,000 of its $10,000 goal.