Man Gets 30 Years For Marijuana-Related Murder In Aurora

AURORA, IL -- An Aurora man will serve 30 years in prison after he pleaded guilty Thursday to a 2015 murder in which a 19-year-old man was killed over a "small amount of marijuana," authorities say. Keyonn S. Lovelace, 22, is the second man to plead guilty in the fatal shooting of Daniel Sanchez, who was shot while attempting to sell Lovelace and another man, Leon Williams, 24, marijuana.

Police say that on Nov. 7, 2015, Lovelace and Williams met with Sanchez in the 600 block of Elmwood Drive to buy marijuana. Sanchez reportedly got in the backseat with Williams while Lovelace drove.

At some point, authorities say Williams tried to rob Sanchez of the marijuana and his money. Sanchez then exited the car and tried to flee on foot, but Williams fired two shots at him with a gun that had been given to him by Lovelace, according to police.

Police later found Sanchez bleeding and lying on the ground. He was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to authorities, Williams later admitted that the pair had intended to rob Sanchez. Lovelace later reportedly told police that he gave Williams his gun.

"Because this defendant unlawfully possessed a gun and provided it to his co-defendant, Daniel Sanchez is no longer with us," Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon said in a statement.

Williams was sentenced to 55 years in prison in spring 2018 after he pleaded guilty.

Image via Kane County State's Attorney's Office