Jurors convict suburban Chicago man in restaurant killing

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) - A jury has found a suburban Chicago man guilty of first-degree murder for fatally shooting a married father as the victim sat in a restaurant with his wife, daughter and niece.

A Friday statement from the Will County state's attorney's office says 33-year-old Christopher Thompson of Joliet faces a maximum life prison term when sentenced in May. Jurors returned with a verdict Thursday.

State's Attorney James Glasgow says in a Friday statement the 2013 shooting by Thompson "displayed a demonic disregard" for the children and everyone else in the restaurant.

Prosecutors say Thompson shot Gerrardo Franchini nine times at point-blank range as he sat in a booth next to his wife, his 5-year-old daughter and his 4-year-old niece. They say the two men had been engaged in an ongoing dispute.