Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Defense granted more time to prepare in Macomb fatal shooting case

Rich Egger
/
TSPR
The McDonough County Courthouse

The man accused of a shooting death at the Four Oaks Apartments on North Charles St. near the Western Illinois University campus appeared in court via Skype on Tuesday, Oct. 25.

In that court appearance, Dylan Lovato’s attorney asked for more time to prepare. The request was granted and the pre-trial conference was rescheduled for early next year.

Lovato, of Beach Park, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty. He remains in jail on $5 million bond.

Prosecutors said that in early March, Lovato drove to Macomb from Chicago’s northern suburbs in the middle of the night.

Lovato entered the apartment of his ex-girlfriend and shot Ivan Almanza in the head while Almanza was sleeping. Almanza was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

Lovato was on the lease and still had a key to the apartment.

He fled from the scene but was caught a short time later in Galesburg.

He graduated from Western in 2020 with a degree in law enforcement.

Tri States Public Radio produced this story.  TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.

Rich is TSPR's News Director.