Iziah Gonzalez mugshot. Photo: Lake County Jail
Waukegan, Illinois – Two brothers have been arrested and charged with first-degree murder following the fatal stabbing of Joshua Kirkwood, a restaurant owner and father of four, on February 8, 2025. Authorities state the incident may have been domestically motivated, as Kirkwood was reportedly in a relationship with the suspects’ mother.
Incident Details
According to a press release from the Waukegan Police Department, officers responded to a call at approximately 11:27 p.m. local time at Forty One Fourteen Steaks and Seafood, located on the 2100 block of North Green Bay Road. Upon arrival, police discovered Kirkwood, 51, suffering from multiple stab wounds in critical condition.
Emergency medical personnel transported Kirkwood to Vista Medical Center East, where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room. The Lake County Coroner’s Office later confirmed his cause of death as “multiple sharp force injuries” following an autopsy.
Suspects and Arrests
Authorities identified one of the suspects as 21-year-old Iziah Gonzalez, a resident of Round Lake, Illinois. Gonzalez was employed at the restaurant alongside his mother, whose name has not been released. The second suspect, a 16-year-old Waukegan resident and Gonzalez’s brother, was not initially apprehended but later turned himself in at the Waukegan Police Department on February 10, 2025.
Gonzalez sustained a laceration to his finger during the altercation, according to police. He was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder. His younger brother, described as the individual who carried out the stabbing, was also charged with first-degree murder as an adult.
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Domestic Dispute Leads to Violence
According to a petition filed by Lake County prosecutors and reviewed by The Chicago Tribune, an employee informed police that Kirkwood and the suspects’ mother frequently argued. The fatal incident reportedly occurred during a “heated discussion” between the two inside Kirkwood’s office.
Police noted that an event was taking place at the restaurant at the time of the incident, but they believe it was unrelated to the stabbing. NBC 5 Chicago reported that the gathering was a gender reveal party.
During the altercation, the suspects’ mother sustained a laceration to her leg and later sought medical treatment at Vista Medical Center. Authorities confirmed that she has not been charged in connection with the case.
Community Reaction
Waukegan resident Jurnee Iverson expressed disbelief over Kirkwood’s tragic death, describing his vision for the restaurant.
“He just wanted a place where we could have brunch, karaoke, and games. I really haven’t come to terms with it yet because it’s the exact opposite of what he was striving for,” Iverson told ABC7.
Ongoing Investigation
The Waukegan Police Department continues to investigate the incident. Authorities encourage anyone with information to come forward as the case progresses.
