Lake County Gazette

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of two individuals in connection with an attempted murder-for-hire plot.

On November 5, 2025, at approximately 5:45 a.m., Lake County sheriff’s deputies initiated an investigation into a shooting incident in Beach Park. This followed information from Waukegan police regarding a 46-year-old man who had been shot outside his residence on North Sheridan Road. According to the Lake County Sheriff's Office, detectives found that the victim was struck while seated in his car as it warmed up before work. A family member transported him to a hospital, and he was subsequently airlifted to a Level 1 trauma center, where he remains in extremely critical condition.

During their investigation, detectives reviewed neighborhood surveillance footage from November 4, which showed a suspicious vehicle moving slowly through the area. Utilizing the Flock Safety license plate reader system, they identified the vehicle and traced it back to its registered owner, Cristian N. Ruval-Cavatorres, aged 28, from Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. On November 5, Mount Pleasant police arrested Ruval-Cavatorres during a traffic stop. Detectives later discovered that he had been hired to kill the victim and recovered both a firearm and phone believed to have been used in the crime.

Lake County detectives located and apprehended the individual suspected of hiring Ruval-Cavatorres on November 6 in North Chicago. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office has approved multiple charges against Ruval-Cavatorres, including attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and aggravated discharge of a firearm. He is currently held in Racine County Jail awaiting extradition to Lake County. As said by Lake County authorities, all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office plays a crucial role in maintaining order and upholding laws within the community while protecting individual rights. It emphasizes service through education, communication, partnerships, and enforcement with an aim to build public trust. Integrity, respect, and professionalism are core values upheld by the office. Established alongside the county's founding in 1839 and expanded over time with additions such as the jail and courthouse in 1895, it holds accreditation for adherence to recognized law enforcement standards.