Aurora Teen Accepts 12-Year Plea Deal In 2020 Shooting

AURORA, IL — An Aurora 17-year-old has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated battery with a firearm, a Class X felony.

The charge against Christian O. Capuchino, of the 200 block of South Ohio Street, dates from 2020.

Prosecutors said he was riding in a white Hyundai sedan around 3:15 p.m. on Nov. 29 of that year. After tailing another car on Aurora's east side, Capuchino and a 21-year-old — each armed with a handgun — got out of the Hyundai and fired dozens of shots at a man before fleeing, according to evidence presented in court.

The Hyundai's 24-year-old driver had provided the two with handguns, prosecutors said.

Aurora police recovered 49 shell casings from the 800 block of Claim Street, where prosecutors said a man suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

Cases against Capuchino's two co-defendants are still pending, according to officials at the Kane County State's Attorney's office.

Capuchino, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, was prosecuted as an adult due to the serious nature of his crimes, prosecutors said.

"Christian Capuchino's age did not insulate him from having to accept responsibility for his violent actions of November 29, 2020," Kane County Assistant State's Attorney Bill Engerman said in a statement. "Other young people should take note that when warranted, the Kane County State’s Attorney's Office will prosecute juvenile offenders vigorously to protect public safety and vindicate the rights of victims."

Prosecutors dropped charges of attempted first-degree murder and armed violence as part of the plea deal, the Daily Herald reported. Capuchino must serve at least 85 percent of his 12-year sentence and will receive credit for his 550 days in the Kane County jail, prosecutors said.