On the evening of February 26, 2020, at approximately 10:40 p.m., Joel Munoz-Valdez approached Luis Lopez outside a home on the 800 block of Brentwood in West Chicago. During an altercation between the two men, Munoz-Valdez took a knife out of his pocket and stabbed Lopez several times in the back and left leg.
Shortly thereafter, Lopez died from his injuries.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that Munoz-Valdez, 26, has been sentenced to twenty-two years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after entering a plea of guilty this morning to one count of First-Degree Murder in the stabbing death. Munoz-Valdez, formerly of the 700 block of S. Oak Street, appeared in court Tuesday morning in front of Judge Michael Reidy, who accepted Munoz-Valdez’s plea.
“Just over two years ago, Joel Munoz-Valdez decided to end a verbal argument with a knife,” Berlin said. “His actions however, not only ended the argument, but also ended Luis Lopez’s life.
“I offer my condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Lopez and wish them strength as they continue their lives with just their memories of Luis. I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Lee Roupas, Kate Klosowski and Connor Greene for their work on this case which ultimately led to Mr. Munoz-Valdez’s guilty plea.”
Munoz-Valdez will be required to serve 100% of his sentence.
