Wheeling resident gets 20 years for stabbing another man 27 times

A 22-year-old Wheeling man pleaded guilty Wednesday to stabbing another man 27 times nearly one year ago as the victim sat in his car.

In exchange for pleading guilty to attempted first-degree murder, Justino Garcia was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

At 2:55 a.m. April 24, 2016, Garcia approached the victim, who was sitting in a parked car in Wheeling, drinking a beer and watching videos on his phone, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Kristin Piper. Displaying a knife, Garcia opened the front passenger's-side door, asked the victim who he was and began stabbing him, Piper said.

The victim tried to run from the car. Garcia pursued the man and continued to stab him, while Garcia's co-defendant, Javier Brito-Hernandez, 28, kicked and punched the man, Piper said.

Police recovered the knife's bloody blade, which broke off during the attack, Piper said.

The victim suffered 27 stab wounds to his face, head, neck, arms and body. He received 100 stitches and 17 staples and was hospitalized for a week, Piper said.

Charges against Brito-Hernandez are pending. He next appears in court on Monday, April 3.

Garcia, who received credit for 340 days in custody, must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.