An Aurora man facing murder charges pleaded not guilty Friday in the August fatal shooting at the Latin American Club.
Alfredo Soto, 49, of Aurora, was indicted in October in the death of 31-year-old Martiniano Alvarez. Soto remains in Kane County Jail on $5 million bail with his next hearing before Judge Linda Abrahamson scheduled for Feb. 23.
According to police and prosecutors, Soto and friends were drinking at the Aurora bar the night of Aug. 1. Alvarez arrived at a later time, but became involved in what was described to be a “normal conversation.” Soto left the bar area and walked to the front door, telling Alvarez, of North Aurora, to join him. As Alvarez walked toward the door, Soto pulled out a handgun and shot Alvarez several times, police said.
Officers arrived at the bar just after 6:30 p.m. to find Alvarez wounded near one of the entrances to the club.
Soto fled the scene in his truck, but was apprehended by police at his home a short time later, according to police. Alvarez died of his injuries shortly after the shooting, police previously said.
Abrahamson on Friday ordered Aurora police to return Soto’s wallet and cellphone— both of which were found in the truck that was seized during the investigation — to his family. The judge did not agree with a request by Soto’s attorney to also release the truck, which has been held by police since the shooting. Soto’s attorney said the family could not afford to pay storage fees on the truck, which he said has no connection to the case, according to court documents.
Dan Campana is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.
