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Anita Alvarez
Cook County State's Attorney
Communications Department
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 603-3423
saomedia@cookcountygov.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 7, 2010

A mother and her son have pled guilty to their roles in a gang-related shooting on Chicago’s South Side last year that left an 18-year-old Chicago man dead, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Delfino Jaurez, 19, and his mother, Karen Juarez, 50, both of 5025 S. Paulina, pled guilty today in connection with the fatal shooting of Jesus Sanchez on May 15 of 2009.

According to prosecutors, the incident occurred at a gas station at 2006 W. Garfield, after the mother and son had driven there to purchase cigarettes. While walking into the store, prosecutors said Delfino Juarez became engaged in a verbal altercation with rival gang members who were also at the station filling their car with gas.

After making his purchases, Delfino Juarez returned to his mother’s car and the two were pulling out of the station when the rival gang members pulled in front of them and began yelling gang slogans in their direction. According to prosecutors, Delfino Juarez then exited the vehicle and began firing at the rival gang members as the car drove away, striking and killing Sanchez.

After the shooting, prosecutors said that Karen Juarez drove her son home and instructed him to dispose of the weapon.

Chicago Police Detectives investigated the incident, which was captured on both Chicago Police and gas station security cameras, and were able to locate Karen Juarez who admitted to both her and her son’s involvement.

Delfino Juarez was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder and Karen Juarez was charged with Obstruction of Justice.

Today, both appeared before Judge William Hooks who sentenced Delfino Juarez to a term of 30 years in prison. Hooks sentenced Karen Juarez to 12 months of probation on the felony obstruction of justice charge.

State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked Chicago Police Detectives and Assistant State’s Attorney Thomas Darman of the gang unit for their handling of the case.

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