Aurora Man Found Guilty of Attempted Murder in Gang Shooting

Aurora, IL — An Aurora man faces a minimum sentence of 26 years in prison for trying to kill someone in a gang-motivated shooting three years ago.

Armando A. Delgado, 20, of the 1000 block of Tollview Avenue, was found guilty of attempted murder, a Class X felony. In addition, it was proven that Delgado fired the handgun used in the commission of the crime.

Delgado waived his right to a jury trial.

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Kane County prosecutors said that at about 9:15 p.m. Sept. 13, 2013, Delgado and a co-defendant were in Bluff Street Park on Aurora’s near east side. The victims’ car drove past them westbound on Bluff Street and stopped at a stop sign at South Broadway. Both victims were seated in the front of the car.

As the car waited for oncoming traffic to clear, Delgado and the co-defendant ran toward the victims’ car shouting gang slogans and flashing gang signs. The co-defendant waited behind the car while Delgado walked up to the passenger side and held a 9mm handgun to the passenger’s head.

The driver heard clicking from the gun, looked and saw Delgado’s finger moving against the trigger. The driver immediately sped off before Delgado could fire a shot. As the car sped away Delgado fired multiple times, shooting out the passenger window. Bullet fragments were later recovered from inside the trunk and from the dashboard near the radio.

About three-and-a-half hours later, Delgado was a passenger in a car that was stopped for a traffic violation. Officers determined that Delgado matched the description given by the shooting victims and took him into custody. Officers found in Delgado’s pocket a spent shell casing that matched shell casings found at the Bluff Street scene of the 9:30 p.m. shooting. Also, Delgado’s clothing tested positive for gunshot residue.

Delgado’s next court appearance is set for 1:30 p.m. Aug 30. The sentence includes a mandatory 20-year enhancement because Delgado personally fired the gun used in the crime.

Delgado remains in custody at the Kane County jail, where he had been held since his arrest in lieu of $200,000 bail. Bond was revoked upon conviction.

The case was prosecuted by Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Greg Sams and Sarah Seberger.

“Mr. Delgado is an embarrassment to himself and a threat to the Aurora community. Because of his poor decisions, he now gets to spend the next couple of decades in prison where the safety of the citizens of Aurora won’t be at risk,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said.