Man sentenced to 60 years in prison for killing teen mom
A North Chicago man was sentenced to 60 years in prison for gunning down a teen mother hours after her younger sister attended a gun control speech by President Barack Obama.
Jim McPherson, 23, of North Chicago, is forced to serve 100 percent of the prison sentence handed down by Judge George Strickland in Lake County court Friday, said Cynthia Vargas, communication manager for the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.
McPherson was facing a sentencing range of 45 years to life, Vargas said.
Janay McFarlane, 18, was gunned down about 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 15, 2013, in an alley on the 1300 block of Jackson Avenue, as she and two friends walked home from a convenience store, authorities said.
McPherson exchanged heated words in the store with McFarlane and another person minutes before the shooting, authorities said.
McPherson was convicted by a jury of killing McFarlane after a 10-day trial Nov. 12, 2014.
Authorities said the shooting took place the same night McFarlane's sister was onstage at Hyde Park Academy where Obama spoke of controlling gun violence.