Man Convicted In Fatal Shooting At Gurnee Mills

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A jury has found a 27-year-old man who fatally shot a man in the Gurnee Mills parking lot guilty.

During the jury trial last week, Joey Gonzalez was convicted on charges of second-degree murder, a class 1 felony; two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, a class x felony; three counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, a class 1 felony; and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, a class 2 felony, according to a news release from the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.

Police were called to the parking lot at Gurnee Mills on Nov. 27, 2021, for a report of shots fired. When officers arrived, they found Jonathan Denicolas, 26, who was being cared for by a Good Samaritan. He was taken to the hospital where he died, authorities said.

Denicolas had arranged to meet with Gonzalez on the day of the shooting, according to a news release. Gonzalez was arrested and taken into custody in August 2022.

During the five-day trial last week, jurors heard from witnesses to the shooting, according to a news release. Gonzalez also took the stand and claimed he acted in self-defense when he shot Gonzalez, according to the news release.

Prosecutors said there was no evidence of Denicolas shooting at Gonzalez, and no weapons were recovered from the area where the shooting occurred.

A sentencing hearing for Gonzalez has been set for Aug. 2. He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.