A Lake County judge has sentenced 23-year-old Kaleb Brown to 22 years in prison for the February 2022 shooting of a Dollar General employee in Waukegan, a crime that left the worker with severe facial injuries and wrapped up with a jury verdict in December 2025.
Judge Hands Down 22-Year Term
Brown was sentenced on April 22, 2026, to 22 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Prosecutors argued for a sentence on the higher end of the statutory range, pointing to the seriousness of the victim’s injuries and to Brown’s behavior while in custody.
Conviction and Case Background
A jury found Brown guilty on December 5, 2025, of aggravated battery with a firearm, according to the Lake County State's Attorney's Office. Assistant State’s Attorney Lauren Kalcheim Rothenberg told jurors, "A hard-working young man was trying to do his job, and the defendant shot him in the face for it."
Evidence Prosecutors Presented at Sentencing
At sentencing, prosecutors pointed to forensic testing that they said tied Brown to a weapon recovered after a June 2022 traffic stop and reported that Brown’s DNA was found on one of the firearms, as detailed by Patch. They also played jail surveillance video from January 2026 that they said showed Brown involved in a physical altercation with other inmates, and local coverage identified the store as the Dollar General at 2613 Grand Ave in Waukegan, according to Lake & McHenry County Scanner.
Victim Impact and Legal Notes
The victim submitted a written impact statement that was read in court, saying the shooting "permanently altered" his life, prosecutors told FOX 32 Chicago. Under Illinois law, aggravated battery with a firearm carries a sentencing range of six to 30 years and must be served at 85%, according to the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.
