Men sentenced to prison for shooting in suspected drug deal
Two men were sentenced to prison Thursday in connection with a shooting in Aurora during what police suspect was a drug deal gone wrong.
Richard Gaston was sentenced to six years and Dontae T. Parker to four years for the October 2020 shooting, according to DuPage County court records.
Both pleaded guilty in May 2023 to aggravated discharge of a weapon toward a person or occupied vehicle. Initially, they were charged with attempted murder. But that charge was dismissed as part of their plea agreements, as were charges of aggravated battery and armed robbery.
Aurora police said they believe Gaston and Parker came to Aurora to sell drugs to the victim and robbed and shot him. The victim was found on the side of the road in the 1400 block of Farington Lane.
Gaston, 22, lives in the 2300 block of Division Street in Melrose Park. Parker, 22, lives in the 1800 block of North Oak Park Avenue in Chicago.
Both will have to serve at least 85% of their sentence before being eligible for parole.
Parker was given credit for the three years and nine months he spent in jail or wearing a GPS monitor.