Driver in Mt. Prospect drive-by shooting pleads guilty; second suspect flees
A Rolling Meadows man was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty this week to taking part in a November drive-by shooting outside a Mount Prospect gas station that left one man injured.
Meanwhile, a second suspect in the shooting failed to appear in court and had a warrant issued for his arrest.
Julio Avila, 21, of the 5600 block of Tinder in Rolling Meadows, did not show up for his scheduled court date on Monday and is now being sought by police.
The Mount Prospect Police Department is asking that anyone who sees Avila call 911 immediately, and that anyone with information on his whereabouts should call the department's Investigations Section at (847) 870-5654.
Co-defendant Eduardo Castro, 18, of the 3000 block of Swallow Lane, received the 12-year sentence after admitting guilt to a charge of aggravated battery with a firearm stemming from the Nov. 5, 2014 drive-by shooting.
According to police, the 21-year-old victim was with a group of men standing outside a gas station on Algonquin Road west of Dempster Street at about 8:30 p.m. that night when someone in a passing vehicle - later identified as Avila - fired three shots in their direction. The victim, an Arlington Heights man, was struck in the arm, police said. A 38-year-old Arlington Heights man with him had an apparent bullet hole in his clothing but suffered no injuries.
Police said Castro was driving the vehicle at the time of the shooting.
Anyone who has information about Avila's whereabouts can leave anonymous tips by calling Crime Stoppers at (847) 590-7867 or texting MPPD and their tip to 274637. Tips through Crime Stoppers are eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for any information leading to an arrest and prosecution.