Man found after car fire in Mount Prospect was shot to death

A man found dead inside a burning car early Friday in northwest suburban Mount Prospect had been shot multiple times, an autopsy has found.

The man, identified as 29-year-old Vladimir Esquivel of Arlington Heights, was found dead inside the vehicle once the fire was put out, police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said. An autopsy Saturday found he died of multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide.

Authorities were called about the car fire at 12:03 a.m. in the 1700 block of West Algonquin Road, near the intersection with Dempster Street, according to a statement from Mount Prospect police. The first officers who arrived found the car engulfed in flames and tried to put the fire out with fire extinguishers.

The officers were unsuccessful, but firefighters extinguished the blaze when they arrived a short time later, police said.

Investigators have determined the fire and his death were “suspicious in nature,” but there was no apparent connection between the vehicle and the location where it was found, police said.

“Detectives believe the homicide was not a random act and the community should not feel in danger,” Mount Prospect police said.

The vehicle was taken to an indoor facility, where investigators from the Major Case Assistance Team Forensic Unit continued to examine it for evidence, police said.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the Mount Prospect Police Department Detective Bureau at (847) 870-5654. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Mount Prospect at (847) 590-7867 or by texting MPPD and the tip to 274637.