Manuel Salazar (artist)
{{Short description|American artist convicted of involuntary manslaughter}}{{Infobox criminal
| name = Manuel Salazar
| image = Manuel_Salazar_(artist,_b._1966).jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|02|20}}
| image_size = 180px
| conviction = Involuntary manslaughter
}}
Manuel Salazar, (born February 20, 1966) was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the shooting of a police officer in 1984. Initially convicted of murder and sentenced to death, he became known as an artist for paintings he created while on death row.{{Cite news|last=Flores|first=Veronica|date=1993-07-30|title=Appeal From Death Row // Salazar's Paintings, Story Move Supporters|work=Chicago Sun-Times|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4182332.html|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312094758/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4182332.html|archive-date=2016-03-12}} Salazar's murder conviction was overturned in 1994; on retrial, Salazar was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and released from prison in 1996.
Shooting of Martin Murrin
On September 12, 1984, Salazar was in a car traveling on the east side of Joliet when their car was stopped by local police. Salazar, who was wanted on a felony warrant, ran from the car with a bag containing an unlicensed handgun. Police Officer Martin Murrin, his gun drawn, chased Salazar down an alley. After a struggle, Murrin was shot five times with his own weapon, killing him. Salazar claimed that he had surrendered to Murrin, but Murrin continued beating him, and Salazar shot Murrin in self-defense.{{Cite web|last=McClory|first=Robert|date=1993-02-18|title=Does Junior Salazar Deserve to Die?|url=http://chicagoreader.com/news-politics/does-junior-salazar-deserve-to-die/|access-date=2021-10-22|website=Chicago Reader|language=en-US}}
Extradition from Mexico and conviction
Salazar fled to Mexico after the shooting, but was captured and returned to Illinois to stand trial in a process alleged to have violated the United States' extradition treaty with Mexico. In December 1985, Salazar was convicted of murder and sentenced to death by lethal injection. His conviction was upheld by the Illinois State Supreme Court in 1988.
International attention
In 1994, Salazar's situation started to attract international attention{{Cite web|last=Frisbie|first=Thomas|date=1996-01-15|title=Salazar Case Gets Help From Abroad|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4325388.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610050446/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4325388.html|archive-date=2014-06-10|access-date=2021-10-22|website=Chicago Sun-Times}} after a series of his paintings, released from the penitentiary in that year, toured in the United Kingdom. {{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/salazar-freedom-campain|title=Salazar Freedom Campaign|date=9 November 2021}} International pressure and significant press coverage continued throughout 1994-95{{Cite news|last=Poe|first=Janita|date=1994-09-12|title=PASSIONS STILL RED HOT IN '84 COP MURDER|work=Chicago Tribune|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-09-12-9409120094-story.html|access-date=2021-10-22}} and culminated on June 10, 1996 in an Early Day Motion,[http://www.parliament.uk/edm/1995-96/974 Early Day Motion 974] Manuel Salazar UK Parliament signed by 47 MPsParliamentary Database: [http://www.edms.org.uk/1992-93/2139.htm Early Day Motion List of Signatory MPs] in the House of Parliament in the UK drawing attention to Salazar's legal predicament and demanding his release.Chicago Tribune September 19, 1995 [https://www.chicagotribune.com/1995/09/19/cop-killer-defendant-contests-85-extradition/ 'Cop Killer Defendant Contests '85 Extradition'] Pressure for Salazar's release came from the UK Campaign, Amnesty International,Group 133 Amnesty International [http://groups.google.com/group/misc.activism.progressive/browse_thread/thread/775918704b84c3b5/8093692b268e1ee4%3Fq%3D%2522Martin%2BMurrin%2522%238093692b268e1ee4&ei=iGwTS6eaOpW8Qpmqic0O&sa=t&ct=res&cd=2&source=groups&usg=AFQjCNFoGmNpp1E3Cv_CFNR9-YP2v10UoQ Somerville/Arlington Appeal]{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and Pope John Paul II.{{Cite web |title=Ten Years On Death Row - from the Catholic Herald Archive |url=http://archive.catholicherald.co.uk/article/7th-april-1995/5/ten-years-on-death-row |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=archive.catholicherald.co.uk}}
Overturned conviction and retrial
In 1994, Salazar's conviction was overturned by the Illinois State Supreme Court, on the grounds that the jury instructions had made it impossible for them to instead choose to convict on the lesser charge of second degree murder.{{Cite web|last=Writer|first=Jerry Shnay, Tribune Staff|title=COP-KILLER DEFENDANT CONTESTS '85 EXTRADITION|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-09-19-9509190219-story.html|access-date=2021-10-22|website=chicagotribune.com|date=19 September 1995 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Chicago |date=1996-09-22 |title=BATTLE LINES SET FOR 2ND TRIAL IN COP’S DEATH |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/09/22/battle-lines-set-for-2nd-trial-in-cops-death/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}} Salazar was retried in 1996 and convicted of the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. Having already served more than the ten-year maximum sentence for involuntary manslaughter, Salazar was released.{{Cite web|last=Writer|first=Andrew Buchanan, Tribune Staff|title=DEATH ROW LED WAY TO ARTISTIC EXPRESSION FOR EX-CON|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-12-15-9612150076-story.html|access-date=2021-10-22|website=chicagotribune.com|date=15 December 1996 |language=en-US}}
References
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Category:Artists from Illinois
Category:American artists of Mexican descent
Category:American people convicted of manslaughter
Category:American people convicted of murdering police officers
Category:American prisoners sentenced to death
Category:People from Joliet, Illinois
Category:People convicted of murder by Illinois
Category:Prisoners sentenced to death by Illinois