Gurnee man pleads guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 20 years for 2022 shooting in Grayslake

An 18-year-old Gurnee man was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison on a charge of second-degree murder involving a fatal shooting in Grayslake in September 2022.

According to the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, Andrew Alexander entered a negotiated plea in Lake County circuit court in connection with the death of Isidro Juarez, 23, of Waukegan.

Juarez was a passenger in a car traveling on Washington Street near Lancer Lane on Sept. 17, 2022, when someone in another vehicle shot him.

Police were called to Northwestern Medicine Center Grayslake about 10:45 a.m. that day for a report of a gunshot victim later identified as Juarez.

Detectives learned Juarez was a passenger in a Nissan when an occupant of a Ford Focus began shooting at the Nissan, according to the state's attorney's office.

He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators determined Alexander was the shooter after a “lengthy and detailed” canvass of Focus owners, according to the state's attorney's office.

Alexander was charged as a juvenile in May 2023 but was transferred to adult court last month. He entered a negotiated plea of guilty on one count of second-degree murder. No motive was given.

A victim impact statement written by Juarez’s mother was read during the court hearing. According to the state's attorney's office, the mother in the statement described how she feels pain every day because she no longer will be able to hear her son's voice again.

Alexander will receive 250 days credit for time served.