Louis' Restaurant Shooter Guilty of Murder

JOLIET, IL — A Joliet man was found guilty of gunning down an ex-convict as he ate breakfast with his family in a crowded local restaurant.

Christopher Leon “Little” Thompson, 33, faces at least 45 years and up to life in prison when he is sentenced May 5.

Thompson’s trial began last week.

In August 2013, Thompson walked into Louis’ Family Restaurant on West Jefferson Street at May Street and and argued with 29-year-old Gerardo Franchini, who was eating with his wife and two daughters. Thompson then allegedly opened fire on Franchini from point-blank range.

Franchini died a few hours later at Presence St. Joseph Medical Center.

At the time, police said they were aware of previous altercations between Thompson and Franchini, and attributed the killing to the trouble the two men had with each other in the past.

During his bond hearing, Thompson insisted he was never even in the restaurant and that he is “scared” of guns.

“I’m scared. I got shot nine times. I don’t want to see a gun,” Thompson blurted during the hearing.

“Your honor, I’m the victim,” Thompson told the judge. “I’m the one that got shot in the face and now I’m being framed.”

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow called Thompson demonic and brutal after the verdict was handed down.

“Christopher Thompson committed an act of unrivaled brutality when he gunned down an unarmed man in a crowded restaurant while he was enjoying a meal with his wife and two little children,” Glasgow said. “His actions displayed a demonic disregard for the lives and safety of the children and everyone in that restaurant. This guilty verdict will place an extremely dangerous and volatile killer behind prison bars where he cannot harm anyone in our community again.”

Franchini was on parole when he was killed. He had served time in prison for the manufacture or delivery of cocaine.

Franchini was also charged with a murder of his own in 2007, according to court records.

Franchini allegedly murdered Brenda Greenwood and wounded Merced Costilla during a January 2007 break-in. A jury found Franchini innocent of all charges the following year.

A second man charged with the killing, Jaime Casillas, was also acquitted.