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Federal prosecutors in Chicago have announced they will not seek the death penalty against one of the men charged with the 2021 murder of National Guardsman Chrys Carvajal. Meanwhile, the FBI continues its urgent search for the second suspect, who has been on the run for over a year.
Gary Roberson, 40, was charged in June 2024 with the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Carvajal. Last week, prosecutors officially informed Judge Robert Gettleman that the death penalty would not be pursued against Roberson.
Random Act of Gang Violence
Investigators say Roberson, a member of the Milwaukee Kings street gang, shot and killed Carvajal on July 3, 2021, in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood. Carvajal, a National Guard member recently returned from boot camp, was simply walking to his car after a party.
The shooting is described as a random act of violence intended to elevate Roberson’s status within his gang.
“My understanding of this incident was Matos and Roberson were looking to gain influence within their gang to commit a random act of violence against someone in their rival gang’s territory,” said Dustin Gourley, Acting Supervisor for the FBI Chicago’s Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force. “Our victim… was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Security camera video, recently shared by the FBI, shows the incident: Roberson is seen getting out of a car and firing his weapon, then getting back in. Joseph Matos, 41, is identified as the getaway driver.
Second Suspect Eludes Capture
Matos, the second suspect charged in the murder, was indicted by federal authorities in May 2024, nearly three years after the killing. He is currently on the run.
Intriguingly, police records show that Chicago police arrested Matos just weeks after Carvajal was killed in 2021. However, Matos was released because prosecutors declined to press first-degree murder charges at the time, citing inconsistent witnesses and concerns about phone evidence. The reporting detective later wrote that all evidence pointed to Matos as the shooter.
The FBI is now spearheading the search for Matos, who has ties to Chicago, Indiana, and the northwest suburbs.
“We want this to come to an end safely and that way that family can have some closure, some peace, and some sense of justice,” Gourley stated.
Suspect Matos: Armed, Dangerous, and Tattooed
Matos, also known as “Troubles,” is considered armed and dangerous.
He is described as a 44-year-old Hispanic male, about 6’2″ tall and 220 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Matos has several distinctive tattoos, including:
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The number “1300” on the left side of his neck.
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“M-Town Kings” on the right side of his neck.
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A “Most Wanted” tattoo across his belly.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to Matos’s arrest. Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI Chicago immediately.
Watch the video below.
