Which confession to believe in West Chicago shooting?

After two men were shot in West Chicago last summer, two gang members confessed separately to pulling the trigger. Now, a DuPage County jury must decide which one to believe.

Prosecutors opened their case against Christopher Einecker on Wednesday by telling jurors they will hear him confess in a recorded phone conversation.

But the defense countered he only made such statements to help a fellow gang member who had already given two detailed confessions.

Einecker, 23, of West Chicago, is accused of shooting a 17-year-old Addison Trail High School student and another man on July 9, 2010, after rival gang factions clashed at Freemont Street and Grand Lake Boulevard.

Although Bradley Taylor of Warrenville initially confessed and was charged, Einecker later identified himself as the real shooter and said Taylor was protecting him in a recorded phone conversation with Taylor's sister, prosecutors said in opening statements.

“You'll find out exactly what kind of a guy the defendant is,” Assistant State's Attorney Kirsten King told jurors. “He is a gang member and he prides himself on being a gang member and acting tough.”

But Assistant Public Defender Steve Dalton said it wasn't until Taylor learned that one of the victims had been shot in the chest that he changed his story.

“Immediately after that, Mr. Taylor has second thoughts and takes action to contradict his confession,” Dalton said. “Ultimately, it worked for him.”

Dalton said Einecker will testify he falsely took responsibility for the shooting to persuade Taylor's family members to be “on his side so they would get (Taylor) a lawyer.” He said three other witnesses who were with the victims also will testify they didn't see Einecker open fire.

The shooting happened after Einecker and Taylor left West Chicago's annual Railroad Days festival on foot after 10 p.m. Prosecutors said the men stepped into a nearby yard after exchanging words with several rival gang members passing in a Chevy Suburban, which then turned around.

The Addison student, now a senior, was shot in the chest, and the other man was shot in the leg, after they exited the sport utility vehicle for a confrontation.

Einecker faces charges including aggravated battery and aggravated discharge of a firearm. He has been held in the county jail on $2 million bail since his arrest last August.

Charges against Taylor in connection with the shooting were dismissed.