Man who shot father of 2 sentenced to 45 years

A Joliet man has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for opening fire on a group of men and shooting to death a father who was walking nearby with his two young sons.

A Will County judge sentenced 22-year-old Daniel Huizar on Friday. He was convicted of first-degree murder last year in the slaying of Alfredo Lopez.

During the trial, prosecutors contended there was a fight in 2008 outside a store involving rival gangs. One of the gangs included Huizar’s friends. Huizar grabbed a gun and fired in the direction of the gang members fighting with his friends. Huizar isn’t an admitted gang member.

Prosecutors say Lopez was accompanying his 8-year-old and 11-year-old sons and wasn’t involved with either group.