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Addison murder conviction stands

The murder conviction of a man found guilty in the drive-by shooting of an Addison teen in 2009 was upheld Friday by the Second District Appellate Court, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin's office said.

Luis Villavicencio-Serna, now 23, was originally sentenced in June 2012 to 50 years in prison for the murder of Addison Trail High School senior Armando Huerta Jr., 18. Villavicencio-Serna shot from a moving vehicle in the early morning hours of May 16, 2009, while Huerta and a friend stood outside Huerta's home on the 300 block of Dale Drive in Addison. Huerta was hit in the leg and back and died several hours later.

At the original trial, officials said the killing occurred because Huerta contacted Villavicencio-Serna's girlfriend, then a 16-year-old runaway who lived in the same apartment building as Huerta and had briefly dated him.

In his appeal, attorneys for Villavicencio-Serna argued that guilt was not proved beyond a reasonable doubt and that some statements used were not admissible.

According to Daily Herald coverage of the trial, three onetime witnesses, including the girlfriend, recanted recorded statements to police that the defendant opened fire in a jealous rage. But prosecutors contended Villavicencio-Serna threatened them, saying "I'll shoot you like I shot that guy" if they cooperated with authorities.

On Friday, the appellate court disagreed with the appeal, upholding Villavicencio-Serna's original 50-year sentence.

"I would like to thank the Appellate Court for their extremely thoughtful and thorough review of this case," Berlin said. "Nearly five years ago, Luis Villavicencio-Serna killed Armando Huerta in cold blood. The evidence of Villavicencio-Serna's guilt was overwhelming, and the Appellate Court agreed that he received a fair trial. With this Appellate Court's decision firmly placing the blame on Villavicencio-Serna, it is my sincerest hope that those who loved Armando will be able to close this horrible chapter in their lives knowing that Luis Villavicencio-Serna will spend the next 50 years of his life behind bars for the murder of Armando Huerta."

Armando Huerta Jr.
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