Illinois man Ettore Lacchei accused of shooting neighbor dead for using a leaf blower

A 79-year-old Illinois man is accused of fatally shooting his neighbor, all because the man was using a leaf blower, according to authorities.

Ettore Lacchei was arrested on murder charges Tuesday over the killing of his next-door neighbor William Martys, 59, in the village of Antioch on April 12.

Martys was using a leaf blower in his own yard when he was approached by Lacchei and the pair began arguing.

Lacchei allegedly shot Martys in the head around 7:35 p.m., the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.

When deputies arrived at the home on North Black Oak Avenue, they found Martys bleeding and unresponsive in the driveway. He was rushed to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators later learned that Lacchei had “various perceived grievances with Martys” prior to the deadly shooting and called the murder “senseless.”

They recovered a firearm believed to be the murder weapon near Lacchei’s property line and arrested the septuagenarian Tuesday on two counts of first-degree murder.

Lacchei was placed behind bars at the Lake County Jail, where he remains in custody.

“Our condolences go out to the family and friends of William Martys, who was senselessly murdered,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “…The members of our Criminal Investigations Division have been working around the clock to bring Mr. Martys’ murderer to justice, and I am happy Mr. Martys’ family can begin the closure and healing process.”

Martys, who worked in construction, was a father of four and a grandfather to a granddaughter named Molly who he adored, according to his obituary.

The death notice described Martys as a person who invoked happiness in every aspect of life and loved his family above all.

“He strived to create happy events and opportunities in life while making sure the ones around him were happy as well,” the obituary stated. “If you were William’s friend, you were his friend for life — he would be there no matter the circumstance.”

Martys was a lifelong disciple of Kung Fu and appreciated everything with a life force, according to the notice.

One thing the father of five did hate, however, was ignorant people, the obituary noted.

“He did not hate many things, but he did hate stupid people who couldn’t open their minds to new thoughts and ideas in life,” it said.

Martys’ alleged killer had issues with several neighbors on the street, according to investigators.

“We understand from interviewing witnesses that this neighbor had confrontations with many different neighbors that live up and down that street,” Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Chris Covelli told CBS Chicago. “This wasn’t the first time that he was seen with a firearm.”

Neighbor JR McCarty told ABC7 Chicago that Lacchei pulled a gun on Martys at least once before.

“No one deserves anything like that and it’s just kind of crazy to think that someone can just break like that over just a simple argument that can be fixed just talking,” he said.

The deadly encounter between neighbors is the latest in a series of senseless shootings stemming from mundane issues across the country this month as the nation grapples with debates over gun control.

“Once again, easy access to firearms has turned a dispute into a deadly crime,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said of Martys’ murder. “We will support the victims and seek justice in the court rooms.”

In all of the recent, high-profile incidents, the assailants shot a victim over a harmless mistake or a trivial everyday occurrence.

In Kansas City, a black 16-year-old, Ralph Yarl, was shot in the head by a homeowner after he mistakenly rang the man’s doorbell on April 13 when he arrived at the wrong address to pick up his younger brothers. Andrew Lester, an 84-year-old white man, was arrested and charged with felony assault in what prosecutors said was a racially motivated crime. Yarl miraculously survived.

Two days later, in upstate New York, 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis was shot and killed when she and her friends pulled into the wrong driveway. The homeowner Kevin Monahan, 65, allegedly shot at their car from his porch as the vehicle was pulling away. He is facing murder charges.

Then, in Texas, two teenage cheerleaders were allegedly shot by a driver, 25-year-old Pedro Tello Rodriguez Jr., after one mistakenly got into the wrong car in a grocery store parking lot on April 18. Payton Washington, 18, was critically injured and spent several days in the hospital.

That same day, a 6-year-old girl and her father were shot by a neighbor after their basketball rolled into his yard in North Carolina.