Opening statements in 2010 fatal shooting of Waukegan woman
Amy Williams was "in the wrong place at the wrong time" seconds before a bullet slammed into her chest and sliced open a vein as she stood on a second-story porch in Waukegan four years ago, a Lake County prosecutor told jurors Tuesday.
Assistant State's Attorney Danielle Pascucci said the bullet was one of four fired from a gun held by Jamell Smith, then 16, who is on trial for murdering the mother of three Aug. 23, 2010.
Pascucci said Smith, of Waukegan, fired the weapon at Williams in retaliation for a stabbing down the street that evening. Williams had nothing to do with the stabbing, officials said.
"Because of this defendant's intentional but misguided revenge, Amy Williams is dead," Pascucci told jurors during opening statements in front of Judge James Booras. "He killed her."
Pascucci said Smith confessed to firing the weapon on video to police. That video will be played for the jury, she said.
Smith, now 21, could be sentenced up to life in prison if found guilty on all four counts of murder for shooting Williams in the 700 block of Walnut Street.
However, defense attorney Ian Kasper told jurors two guns were used the night Williams was killed, and neither was fired by Smith.
"Jamell Smith did not kill Amy Williams," Kasper said, adding gun residue was found on the clothing of another defendant. "I want you to bring your common sense here, bring your experiences here, and at the end of all the evidence, bring him a not guilty."
Smith was one of four people involved in the shooting, prosecutors said, and the only one to not take a plea deal in 2013 or currently serving a prison sentence.
Waukegan residents Pierre Dorn, now 31, and Stephen Moore, now 23, each pleaded guilty to murder, while Luis Nazario, 23, of Zion, pleaded guilty to aggravated battery with a firearm. Dorn is serving a 28-year prison sentence, Moore received a 20-year sentence, and Nazario is serving 15 years.
The victim of the earlier stabbing was a cousin to Nazario, authorities said.