Round Lake driver sentenced for 2015 Palatine shooting
A man who authorities say was driving fellow gang members when one of them shot rivals in Palatine pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder.
Xavier Salinas, 21, of Round Lake was sentenced to a total of 18 years - two consecutive nine-year terms - in exchange for his guilty pleas Wednesday.
Salinas, who received credit for 492 days in custody, must complete at least 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
The shooting took place about 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10, 2015, on the 1900 block of North Green Lane in Palatine. It followed a meeting between two Chicago gang leaders, described as "uncharged co-offenders," and the leaders of the gang's suburban counterpart about increasing the suburban contingent's profile, according to prosecutors.
The suburban gang leader told Salinas to put in more work to improve his position within the gang.
To that end, Salinas drove the uncharged co-offenders to a known gang hangout. As they passed by two men, one of Salinas' passengers flashed gang signs. While Salinas parked, one of the uncharged co-offenders left the car, jumped a fence and fired at the two victims.
A 35-year-old man was struck in the buttock and eventually treated and released, prosecutors said. The other victim, 17, was shot seven times. One of the bullets lodged in his spine, prosecutors said.
Witnesses described Salinas' car, and surveillance video shows him parking it just before the shootings.