Man convicted of killing teen playing video games

JOLIET — A Will County jury has convicted a suburban Chicago man in the January 2011 murder of a 14-year-old boy who was playing video games in his Lockport home when he was shot to death.

Vernon McCormick was accused of spraying the home with bullets, hitting Deonte Lesley in the head. He later died at Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet. The shooting also wounded 16-year-old Jordan Edwards and 17-year-old Shadon McDonald.

It took the Will County jury four hours Tuesday before finding McCormick guilty of first-degree murder.

When he was arrested on an unrelated parole violation, investigators said they believed McCormick acted alone and others living in the house, not Lesley, were the intended targets.

Prosecutors say the 24-year-old defendant faces life in prison when he’s sentenced Sept. 26.