Teen charged, sentenced as adult in West Chicago shooting

A West Chicago teen, charged as an adult in a July 2013 shooting, is headed to prison.

Juan Calderon, 16, of the 1900 block of Gates Street, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of aggravated battery with a firearm and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Authorities said Calderon was with fellow gang members about 1:30 p.m. on July 2, 2013, when they encountered an acquaintance on Blakely Street between Blair and Stimmel streets in a residential area of West Chicago.

After exchanging words, Calderon fired three shots from his .38-caliber handgun at the acquaintance, but instead struck an 18-year-old man who was with the acquaintance, Assistant State's Attorney Steve Knight said in court.

"An argument broke out," Knight said, "and (Calderon) told the police he would not back down from a fight. So he fired three shots and then ran away."

Police were in the area on an unrelated call and arrested Calderon after a brief foot chase. The teen later confessed, and police recovered the firearm, according to prosecutors, who said the victim was treated for a shoulder wound and released from Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield.

Prosecutors said "numerous members of the public, including a mother with her young child" witnessed the afternoon shooting.

Calderon has been held on $500,000 bond since his arrest on July 2, 2013. Calderon must serve 85 percent of the sentence and he received credit for 310 days already in custody. He will be eligible for parole in mid-2018.