Waukegan man found guilty of murder

A Lake County jury found a Waukegan man guilty of first degree murder for killing a teenager in 2016.

Willie C. Jackson, 20, of Waukegan now faces up to 85 years in prison for killing Dayviontay T. Jackson, 17, a senior from Waukegan High School who was gunned down Nov. 11, 2016, after an argument during a gathering at a home on the 400 block of McKinley Avenue in Waukegan.

The case will return to court June 28 to set a sentencing date.

Assistant Lake County State's Attorney Danielle Pascucci said when the trial started last week that Dayviontay Jackson and Willie C. Jackson, who were not related, were looking at guns in the home with three other people when an argument erupted.

As the confrontation escalated, Willie Jackson pointed the loaded AR-15 at Dayviontay Jackson and pulled the trigger, Pascucci said.

Dayviontay was shot 10 times.

Defense attorney John Radosevich and Jeff Facklam used a self-defense argument, claiming the two fought over the weapon after their argument turned physical. Dayviontay Jackson grabbed the barrel of the weapon and tried to pull it out of Willie Jackson's hand, causing Willie Jackson to pull the trigger, Radosevich said.

After the first bullet grazed Dayviontay Jackson, Radosevich said, Dayviontay rushed Willie Jackson, causing him to fire nine more shots.

Willie Jackson fled the shooting but was captured two months later in Tennessee. He has been held in Lake County jail on $3 million bail since.