Investigators are still looking for alleged Milwaukee Kings street gang member Joseph Matos in connection to the murder of Chicago National Guardsman Chrys Carvajal, the FBI said
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 9:53PMInvestigators are still looking for alleged Milwaukee Kings street gang member Joseph Matos in connection to the 2021 murder of Chicago National Guardsman Chrys Carvajal , the FBI said.
gunned down after leaving a Fourth of July party in the city's Belmont Cragin neighborhood in 2021Carvajal's family said police arrested Joseph 'Troubles' Matos soon after the murder, but the state's attorney's office determined there was insufficient evidence to file charges.
Charges filed in connection to 2021 murder of 19-year-old Chicago National Guardsman Chrys Carvajal The FBI has raised their reward from $25,000 to $50,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Matos. They said he should be considered armed and dangerous. Carvajal was just days away from his 20th birthday when he was killed. He was a member of the Army National Guard, and also hoped to go the academy and become a Chicago police officer.
Investigators have said they're not sure Matos is still in the Chicago area. But they're hoping the increase in the reward will move the needle and finally get Carvajal's family the closure they seek. Investigators believe the shooters, who did not know Carvajal, were trying to elevate their status in their Northwest Side gang. 'My mom takes in the hardest. It's a daily struggle. And we continue to find the strength within to not only mourn his loss, but also fight for justice,' sister Jennifer Ramírez said.Roberson was taken into custody.
'There is a possibility he's still in the Chicagoland area, but he does have connections to the greater Dallas area, California. And there are rumblings and we've had leads out to Puerto Rico,' FBI Assistant Agent in Charge Steve Flores said. Matos has multiple tattoos, including the number 1300 on the left side of his neck and the phrase 'M-Town kings' on the right. 'Any kind of morsel of intelligence can really help us in locating him and taking him off the street,' Flores said.
For Carvajal's sister, who spoke in front of a memorial that sits at the corner of the family's Portage Park home, the message she wants to get across to Matos is clear. 'You can run and you can continue to run for as long as you want. But you cannot hide from a higher power. Stop being a coward and give yourself up, or somebody will,' Ramírez said.
The second person charged in connection with Carvajal's murder remains in federal custody awaiting trial, which is set to begin early next year.
Crime Stoppers Unsolved Murder Chrys Carvajal Federal Charges Filed Against Joseph Matos In Con National Guardsman Killed Chicago Shooting Belmont Cragin Shooting American Legion Volunteers Chrys Carvajal Reward Milwaukee Kings Street Gang 18933096
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Chicago Cinco de Mayo event cancelled for 2nd year over fear of immigration raidsChicago's annual Cinco de Mayo parade has been canceled a second year in a row because of fear related to immigration enforcement, organizers said.
Read more »
National Weather Service confirms 2 more tornadoes in greater Chicago area from Friday stormsThe National Weather Service Monday confirmed two more tornadoes from Friday's outbreak of severe storms, bringing the total confirmed tornadoes in the greater Chicago area to nine.
Read more »
California National Guardsman accused of trying to rape 13-year-old girl in UtahA California National Guardsman was arrested after he allegedly tried to meet up with a 13-year-old girl in Utah to rape her.Joshua Ruben Rodriguez, 29, was arr
Read more »
Odds of dying at Utah national parks low, according to National Park Service dataA man died after falling at Zion National ParkLast Friday, 68-year-old Gilberto Ramos from Texas died after falling from the chained section of the Angels Land
Read more »
FBI Increases Reward to $50,000 for Suspect in National Guardsman's MurderThe FBI has raised the reward for information leading to the arrest of Joseph Matos, a suspect in the 2021 murder of National Guard member Chrys Carvajal in Chicago. The shooting, allegedly a gang-related act of violence, occurred as Carvajal walked to his car after a party. A second suspect, Gary Roberson, has already been charged.
Read more »
$50K reward offered in search for suspect in National Guardsman's murderA reward is being offered in the search for a suspect accused of shooting and killing a National Guardsman in Chicago in 2021.
Read more »