Aurora man found guilty in gang-motivated murder

A 22-year-old Aurora man was convicted Thursday of a 2007 murder authorities described as gang-motivated.

Kane County Circuit Judge Timothy Q. Sheldon found Lorenzo I. Alvarez of the 700 block of Spring Street guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for the shooting death of 36-year-old Oscar Campos in March 2007.

According to the Kane County State's Attorneys office, Alvarez was walking home from school in the area of North and East streets with two street gang associates when they saw a van that contained members of a rival street gang.

A passenger in the van made a comment to the Alvarez group and flashed gang signs. Words were exchanged. Alvarez displayed a 9 mm hand gun and began firing as Campos was exiting the van, authorities said.

Campos was struck once and the bullet pierced his aorta. He was pronounced dead shortly after the shooting.

Sheldon heard the case Dec. 14 to 18, as Alvarez had waived his right to a jury trial.

The next court proceeding is scheduled for Feb. 17 for motions and sentencing. Alvarez could be sentenced from 20 to 60 years plus an additional mandatory 25 years to life because he discharged a firearm that caused death, according to the state's attorneys office.