Two Sterling men indicted on murder charges in June homicide

MORRISON – A Whiteside County grand jury Wednesday handed down a murder indictment against two men in the beating death of a 54-year-old Sterling man in late June.

Luis Carranza, 19, and Miguel Tamayo, 20, both of Sterling, are now charged with one count each of first-degree murder in the death of Juan Lopez.

Carranza and Tamayo also are charged with aggravated battery and mob action in the beating of Rodolfo Luevano, 41, of Rock Falls. The alleged beating took place during a street fight in the 400 block of West Fifth Street, which led to Lopez's death, according to Sterling Police.

A third man, Jose Antonio Reyes-Gomez, 23, of Sterling, already is charged with first-degree murder in Lopez's death. He remains on the run as of Wednesday afternoon.

Carranza and Tamayo are being held on a $1 million bond.

For the complete story, pick up Thursday's Daily Gazette or Telegraph.