Aurora man convicted of ‘07 fatal shooting

A reputed gang member was convicted Thursday of fatally shooting a 35-year-old man who caught the defendant’s friend burglarizing a car in Aurora.

Enrique Torres was found guilty of first-degree murder in the April 14, 2007, shooting death of Edgar Hill of Hillside. He hung his head but otherwise showed no reaction as DuPage County Judge Robert Kleeman handed down the decision.

Prosecutors said Hill was shot three times after he confronted a man burglarizing a car outside a Super 8 motel on Aurora’s far-east side.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Steven Knight and Demetri Demopoulos said the confrontation led to a fight also involving Torres, 27, of Aurora. They said Torres retrieved a gun and opened fire after Hill bit his finger.

Torres had opted for a trial by judge rather than a jury. Two eyewitnesses testified they were with Torres the night of the killing and saw him shoot Hill at close range, as the victim curled into a fetal position.

But defense attorney Frank Tedesso argued the witnesses lied in order to cover their own involvement in the shooting and catch breaks in unrelated criminal cases. Kleeman said he was viewed the eyewitness accounts with “a great deal of skepticism” but ultimately found them credible in light of other corroborating evidence.

Torres, who remains in the county jail, faces 45 years to life in prison at sentencing. His next court date is March 7.