Auroran faces at least 20 years in two Labor Day shootings
BY ERIKA WURST ewurst@stmedianetwork.com November 15, 2012 11:38AM
Alejandro Rodriguez faces up to 20 years in prison in an Aurora shooting.
Updated: November 17, 2012 8:02PM
A 21-year-old Aurora man will be sent to prison for at least 20 years for his involvement in two gang-related shootings over the Labor Day weekend in 2011.
On Thursday, a Kane County jury convicted Alejandro Rodriguez, of the 1300 block of Indian Avenue, of armed violence, aggravated discharge of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm by a street gang member, all felonies.
Rodriguez faces a sentence of 20 to 60 years in prison.
According to prosecutors, Rodriguez, a street gang member, was the passenger in a vehicle on Aurora’s near East Side on the afternoon of Sept. 3, 2011. Police said as they approached State and Kane streets, they came upon a man they believed to be a rival gang member. Prosecutors said Rodriguez began to argue with the man, and then pulled out a revolver, firing three shots.
The shots missed the victim, but hit a nearby house and vehicle.
A short time later, Rodriguez and his fellow gang member approached Beach Street and Columbia Street, where they came upon a second man they believed to be a rival gang member. Prosecutors said Rodriguez fired another three shots at the second victim, missing him, and again striking a nearby house and car.
A witness of the second shooting called 911. After a brief search of the neighborhood, police found Rodriguez with five rounds of ammunition for the Smith & Wesson revolver used in the shootings. During a subsequent search of his home, police said they found more than 300 rounds ammunition for the Smith & Wesson.
“These were brazen acts of gang violence carried out in broad daylight on a holiday weekend that put the safety of the public in grave danger,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said.
