Man Gets 65 Years For Road-Rage Murder Of Father Of 5 In Waukegan

WAUKEGAN, IL — A Chicago man was sentenced to 65 years in state prison for fatally shooting a Beach Park man after a traffic crash in Waukegan nearly two years earlier.

Sheldon Brown, 34, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in March for the Oct. 9, 2020, slaying of 38-year-old Dwayne Young, a father of five from Beach Park.

That night, Young was found lying in the road at 8th and Jackson streets after having been shot during a traffic dispute, authorities said.

Young reportedly accidentally struck the rear of Brown's car before Brown got out and began shooting.

At the time of the slaying, Brown was out on bail after posting the cash portion of his bond to secure his release on a gun-related charge in Cook County. He also faces another murder charge in Cook County stemming from a separate incident, prosecutors said.

Brown has remained at the Lake County Jail since his arrest a day after the killing, due to his inability to post the $300,000 cash portion of his bond.

Unlike with most other crimes in Illinois, 100 percent of prison sentences for first-degree murder must be served behind bars — without the possibility of parole.

At Friday's sentencing hearing, Young's wife and eldest son told Lake County Associate Judge George Strickland about the loss they had suffered, according to a spokesperson for the state's attorney's office.

Young had reportedly been planning to open a barbershop with his son, according to his family, and his first grandchild was born just weeks after his slaying.

Brown, who has represented himself after dismissing private and state-provided defense attorneys, did not call any witnesses in mitigation.

Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a statement that staffers from his office would continue to support Young's family.

“This devastating incident left five young people without the love and guidance of a father, a wife without a partner, and a community without a beloved friend," Rinehart said.

"This case is just another example of how easy access to weapons can turn everyday incidents like fender benders into a fight for life and death," he added.

Earlier: Guilty Plea In Road-Rage Murder Of Father Of Five