Aurora Gang Leader Gets 55-Year Sentence For Gun Charges: SA

AURORA, IL — An Aurora gang leader and "lifelong criminal" has been sentenced to 55 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of firing eight shots from a handgun toward an Aurora police car in 2020, according to officials at the Kane County State's Attorney's Office.

Andres Ramirez, of the 700 block of Second Avenue, was found guilty of three felony charges: armed violence, aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

His sentence, which will be served at the Illinois Department of Corrections, is comprised of 55 years and 25 years for the armed violence and aggravated discharge offenses, respectively. Officials said he faces a minimum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment, for which he receives credit for the 827 days already spent in the Kane County jail.

The 48-year-old Aurora man is eligible for day-to-day sentencing on the 55-year term and must serve 85 percent of the 25-year term, officials said.

RELATED: Jury Finds Aurora Man Guilty Of Firing 8 Shots Toward Police Car

Ramirez's prison sentence stems from a shooting that happened around 7:30 p.m. March 19 in the 200 block of Jefferson Street. Assistant state's attorneys said the man fired eight shots in the direction of a marked Aurora police car that was driving down the street. One bullet hit a nearby house and another hit a parked car.

At the time of the shooting, Ramirez was on parole for a 2003 attempted first-degree murder offense. In 2017, he was sentenced to 16½ years in prison for that offense and placed on three years of mandatory supervised release.

"Mr. Ramirez is a lifelong criminal," Assistant State’s Attorney Lori Anderson said in a statement. "He joined a street gang when he was 14 years old and art one time was the leader of that gang. His history of violence in the city of Aurora is more than sufficient justification for this lengthy prison term. I wish to thank ASA Joe Gay for his assistance with this prosecution. I also wish to thank everyone at the Aurora Police Department, especially the Special Operations Group, for their daily work on behalf of the citizens of their city."