Jun 29, 2007 7:16 pm US/Central
Arrests Provide Relief For Victim's Family
Noe Salinas Was Shot to Death by Gang Members In A Probable Case of Mistaken Identity
by Mike Puccinelli
AURORA, Ill. (CBS) ―
Suburban police just made nearly 30 arrests in 22 cold case killings that date back nearly two decades. CBS 2's West Suburban Bureau Chief Mike Puccinelli reports on the massive roundup of gang members.
It's an emotional embrace 11 years in the making. Jennifer Salinas hugged her cousin after learning that police have two men in custody for killing her 16-year-old brother Noe back in 1996.
She feared his killers would never be caught, so describing her emotions Friday was tough.
"I can't explain it," she said.
What is clear is that Noe is one of 22 victims who police say were murdered by more than 30 Latin Kings. Twenty-nine accused killers were busted since Wednesday. Three more are still at large.
"I'd like to say it's a death blow for the gang," said John Barsanti, Kane County State's Attorney. "I don't know that I can say that but this is the best that we can do."
The FBI's man on the case spoke of similar superlatives. Bill Monroe said he can't recall anything of this magnitude in his career.
Operation First Degree Burn started three years ago after the Aurora Police Department decided to reopen their cold case files
"We're not going to give up. We haven't forgotten," said Aurora Police Chief William Powell.
Noe's case was one of those reopened.
It was 5 p.m., 11 years ago when police say two gang members named Pistol Pete and Johnny O chased Noe down while he was running for his life and shot him to death.
Paulita Salinas wasn't sure if she'd ever see her grandson's killers caught.
"I felt like crying this morning so badly when they told me," she said.
But they are tears of relief because after a decade of frustration this family now believes there will be justice for Noe.
Police believe Noe was killed in a case of mistaken identity.
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