Hoffman Estates man gets probation in shooting

A lifetime without a criminal infraction earned Hoffman Estates resident Brian Nigro 30 months felony probation instead of four to 15 years in prison, after he pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm for a shooting Nov. 12 in Hoffman Estates.

The shooting followed an argument between Nigro, a 31-year-old truck driver, and another man at Nigro's residence on the 100 block of Arizona Blvd. Nigro fired two rounds from a shotgun at the victim, missing him but hitting the wall, prosecutors said. Nigro left the residence soon after and was apprehended a short time later by Hoffman Estates police.

As conditions of his plea, Nigro - who had a valid firearm owner's identification at the time of the incident - may never again possess a gun. He cannot have any contact with the victim and he must surrender his weapons, including two handguns, two shotguns and a rifle, to police.

"You are awfully lucky," said Cook County Judge Thomas Fecarotta as he handed down the sentence Wednesday in a Rolling Meadows courtroom. "If you would have hit (the victim), you would have been looking at attempted murder."

The judge noted for the record, that prosecutors requested Nigro serve time in prison. He also noted the defendant's lack of criminal background, which he cited as a factor in his decision to sentence Nigro to probation.