Aurora woman acquitted of attempted murder
A Kane County jury acquitted a 34-year-old woman of attempted murder charges after she was accused of ramming a sport utility vehicle full of teens and firing two shots at its occupants, one of whom had previously fought her cousin's daughter.
"On August 30th, 2010, the defendant made a decision to become a vigilante," Assistant State's Attorney Jonathan McKay told jurors in closing arguments Thursday, detailing a car chase on Aurora's west side. "She was going to do whatever it took to get revenge. There was nothing out of bounds, there were no limits."
The jury deliberated about four hours before finding Anieka Johnson not guilty of attempted murder. She was, however, convicted of aggravated discharge of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school and aggravated battery with a firearm.
Judge James Hallock will sentence Johnson, whose bond was revoked, July 19. She faces a prison term of six to 30 years.
During Johnson's four-day trial, prosecutors argued she used her Ford Windstar minivan to chase and ram a Ford SUV containing one male and seven females after learning of the fight earlier that day.
After a chase, Johnson fired two shots at the vehicle from close range before cutting off the SUV, causing both vehicles to crash. One shot grazed the chest of a then-13-year-old girl sitting in the rear of the SUV.
Defense attorney Dan Collins argued Johnson acted in self-defense and feared for her life. He pointed to her testimony that the teen driving the SUV was the aggressor and that Johnson said she was talking to her cousin on the phone when her minivan was rammed three times.
Collins noted that police photos show no front-end damage on Johnson's minivan, which he said created doubt as to the state's argument that she was ramming the SUV. Johnson didn't deny firing shots, but said they were at the SUV's tires, not people.
"(Johnson) followed this boy to get him to talk. She never struck his vehicle," Collins said. "Was she a vigilante? That is an incredible, incredible stretch."
But Assistant State's Attorney Bill Engerman questioned why Johnson never told police at the scene she was afraid for her life and instead told an officer she was in "pursuit" of the SUV. Engerman said that at one point during the chase Johnson yelled to the SUV, "Y'all trying to beat up little girls?"
Engerman also noted testimony from an off-duty Aurora police officer who heard engines revving and saw Johnson trailing the SUV and turning after it.
"She is the hunter, not the hunted. She had that gun. She put it out the window and fired shots - not one, but two," Engerman said. "Her aim was not that good, but we're not judging her skill we're judging her intentions. Her intent wasn't to scare. Her intent was clear. Her intent was to shoot and kill."