Rockford man charged with drug-induced homicide

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Police arrested Julian Argumedo, 27, for his alleged role in two fentanyl-induced deaths in May 2023.

On May 3rd, 2023, around 9:42 p.m., Rockford Fire and Police were dispatched to the 1100 block of Blake Street for an overdose. Officials located three unresponsive people in the kitchen of the apartment.

Police said they located fentanyl on the kitchen table.

One victim was pronounced deceased the next day at OSF St. Anthony Hospital and another was pronounced deceased on August 19, 2023, at Swedish American Hospital. Both victim’s toxicology results were positive for fentanyl.

The third victim survived and was released on May 4th, 2023, from Swedish American Hospital. She requested to speak to officers about the incident.

One of the deceased victims wanted to purchase cocaine so she contacted Argumedo, according to reports. The victim told police they received the cocaine and ingested the drug but immediately felt sick.

The victim said she called the suspect to tell him what he sold to her made her feel sick and he said “no no no” and hung up.

The woman called 911 between the time the other two victims passed out and she also fell unconscious.

Police conducted a search warrant of the messages between her and Argumedo finding conversations about drug sales.

Argumedo was already lodged in the Winnebago County Jail on May 26, 2023, on unrelated charges.

The suspect has previously been convicted of intent to deliver cocaine and arrested for delivering fentanyl along with possession of controlled substances, according to court documents. He is currently lodged in the Illinois Department of Corrections with a projected parole date of April 2, 2025.

Argumedo is charged with two counts of drug-induced homicide and delivering fentanyl.

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