The neighbor of a Northwest Side man found beaten and killed in his home has been charged in his murder.
Daniel Tyler, 34, was charged in connection with the homicide of Michael Justo, 56, who was found dead late Tuesday at his home in the 5300 block of North Northwest Highway.
Police said Tyler lives in the same block as Justo, who died from blunt force trauma to the head, according to the Medical Examiner's Office, and whose home apparently was burglarized before he was killed.
Officers first went to Justo's home early Tuesday afternoon in response to a burglary. They were called back later when Justo's body was discovered.
Tyler was questioned, and while he was in custody being treated for self-inflicted injuries, police said he struck a medical staffer in the face. Tyler then hit an officer and tried to take away his gun.
He was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery and attempt to disarm an officer.
Friends of the Justo family said Justo's wife had last spoken with her husband, a city worker, at about 4:30 Tuesday afternoon. When she returned home late at night, she found the house ransacked from an apparent burglary.
"When she got back, his car was gone, so she though he was gone and didn't think anything until later in the night... he hasn't shown up. She called the cops again and that's when they found him in the basement," said family friend Mike Scriven.
Justo's car was found about three blocks away in a parking lot.
