Man charged in shooting of Crest Hill co-worker free on bond

A man charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of a co-worker in Crest Hill has been released from the Will County jail after posting bond, court records show.

About 9 a.m. Dec. 19, Marius Januzis, 42, of Boca Raton, Florida, was released from the jail after his friend Ramunas Zitkevicius posted 10% of his $500,000 bond, according to court records.

Januzis has been charged in the shooting death of Joliet resident Donatas Bruzga, 36, on Dec. 13.

Crest Hill Police Chief Ed Clark said the killing occurred at A1 Auto & Truck Collision at 2020 Raynor Ave.

Zitkevicius said he had “no idea” when he was asked if he knew what happened during the incident that led to Januzis’ arrest. When asked why he posted Januzis’ bond, he said, “None of your business,” before hanging up.

Januzis’ attorney, Richard Kayne, had filed a bond reduction motion Dec. 17 that argued his client’s bond was excessive and unconstitutional.

“Defendant is entitled to the guarantees of the United States Constitution, the Constitution of the State of Illinois and the Illinois Code of Criminal Procedure concerning this right to a fair and reasonable bail,” Kayne said in the motion.

Clark said the police investigation showed the fatal shooting of Bruzga appeared to be a “careless act.”

“What came to light through interviews and investigation was a reckless, tragic incident involving alcohol and firearms,” Clark said.

In Kayne’s bond reduction motion, he argued that his client’s bond should be reduced because he is a 42-year-old U.S. citizen who “suffers from leukemia and is required to take daily medication.”

Kayne said before Januzis’ arrest, he was employed as an “over-the-road” truck driver and lived in Lemont. Zitkevicius lives at the same Lemont address, court records show.

Januzis provides financial support “to his 6-year-old child and the child’s mother,” Kayne said.

Will County Chief Deputy Coroner Mark Revis said the preliminary results of Bruzga’s autopsy showed he died from a gunshot wound to the chest.

Bruzga was taken to AMITA Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where he was pronounced dead at 7:21 p.m. on Dec. 13, he said.

A preliminary hearing in Januzis’ case is scheduled for Jan. 9.