Jury: Palatine Man 'Not Guilty' of Father-Son Double Murder

A Palatine man accused of slaying a local father and son in 2014 was found not guilty on Thursday because of conflicting accounts, an overall lack of evidence and a defense that highlighted detective's neglect to pursue additional suspects.

A Cook County eight-day trial wrapped up around 1 p.m. Thursday, according to a Chicago Tribune report. Thereafter, a jury deliberated for about four hours before revealing a not guilty verdict for Marco Lopez, 19, who police had charged with killing a 15-year-old former friend and that friend's father.

READ: Trial for Teen Accused of Father-Son Double Murder Begins

Prosecutors referenced Lopez's gang affiliations and reportedly coined him as a "cold-blooded killer," emphasizing that he was seen leaving the crime scene — "in and out" too quickly to accrue evidence on his person. Meanwhile, Lopez's public defender attested police had "tunnel vision" that prevented them from pursuing other formidable leads in the case.

"Seeing Marco walking on a sidewalk doesn't mean he committed this crime," the public defender said, in the Chicago Tribune report.

The crime's victims were 15-year-old Luis Reynoso and his 38-year-old father, Segundo Reynoso, both of Palatine. Lopez previously lived in their home.

"Authorities said the shooting was gang-related and motivated by Lopez's belief that Luis was a police informant," the story says. "They said Segundo Reynoso's two young daughters were in the apartment at the time of the shooting. The weapon was never found."

READ: Teen Held Without Bail on Murder Charges in Father, Son Shooting

PHOTO: Marco Lopez (Image via Cook County Sheriff's Office)