A Kane County judge on Tuesday found Jimmy Medina guilty of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in a 2023 Carpentersville shooting that killed 17-year-old Anthony Aragon. Medina had waived his right to a jury and put his fate in the hands of the judge in a bench trial. He remains in the Kane County jail while he waits for a sentencing hearing later this summer in a case that also left two other teenagers wounded and a neighborhood shaken.
Prosecutors, according to FOX 32 Chicago, said Medina opened fire from a vehicle on Oct. 25, 2023, spraying multiple handgun rounds into another car near the 1–99 block of Robin Road in Carpentersville. FOX 32 Chicago reports that Aragon was shot in the head and later died of his injuries, a second teen was hit in the left hip and required extensive surgery, and a third victim was grazed and treated at a hospital. Medina is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on Aug. 26, according to the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office as summarized by FOX 32 Chicago.
Judge's ruling
Kane County Judge D.J. Tegeler found Medina guilty under Illinois' doctrine of accountability, which allows a defendant to be convicted for helping plan or aid a crime even if they never pulled the trigger, as reported by the Daily Herald. The Daily Herald notes that Tegeler highlighted messages Medina sent about getting a gun and talking about a specific target, and also pointed out that Medina chose a bench trial over a jury. Prosecutors told the court they believe the shooting stemmed from an earlier dispute and that the Medinas were brought in as reinforcements.
Victims and community
The attack left a 17-year-old dead and several families reeling. According to ABC7 Chicago, Aragon was rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead there, another teen underwent extensive surgery for the hip wound, and a third victim suffered a graze injury. Community members organized fundraisers in the aftermath of the 2023 shooting, and local officials publicly thanked investigators and victim advocates for pushing the case forward. "This case is a tragedy that claimed the life of a 17-year-old and forever changed the lives of multiple victims and their families," Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Kelly Orland said, as quoted by FOX 32 Chicago.
Legal outlook
Under Illinois law, a first-degree murder conviction carries a prison term of 20 to 60 years, and anyone convicted of that offense must serve the entire sentence with no time off for good behavior, according to the Illinois Unified Code of Corrections. Attempted first-degree murder is a Class X felony with a sentencing range of 6 to 30 years, and truth-in-sentencing rules generally require that at least 85 percent of that term be served, according to the same code. In practical terms, whatever term the judge selects in August will be largely served behind bars, with only limited credit available. Defense attorneys can still press for a sentence on the lower end of the range or pursue an appeal later, while prosecutors have framed the guilty verdict as a key step toward accountability.
What's next
Alan Medina, who prosecutors say was driving the vehicle that night, remains charged and is set for pretrial proceedings on July 22, according to the Daily Herald. Jimmy Medina is expected back at the Kane County courthouse on Aug. 26 for sentencing, where the judge will choose a term within the ranges laid out in state law. For Aragon’s family and for Carpentersville residents, the case is now shifting from the question of guilt to the harder question of how much time Medina will spend in prison.
