Man Found Guilty Of First-Degree Murder in Son’s Shooting

LAKEMOOR, IL — A Lakemoor man was found guilty of first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of his 31-year-old son in March 2025, prosecutors said.

James R. Piezonka was convicted last week following the week-long jury trial, according to a news release from the McHenry County Sheriff's Office.

According to evidence presented at trial, Piezonka retrieved a .38 special revolver from his bedroom at about 1:20 p.m. on March 2, 2025, as his son was preparing to leave the home they shared, prosecutors said.

His son, prosecutors said, was sitting on his motorcycle and backing out of the garage when Piezonka fired five shots at him, all of which hit him.

Despite suffering multiple gunshot wounds, the man was able to leave the property and reach Illinois Route 120, where passing motorists and other witnesses stopped to help him while they waited for emergency responders. He later died from his injuries, according to the news release.

Prosecutors presented surveillance video from the residence, eyewitness testimony, forensic evidence and the .38 Special revolver used in the shooting during the trial. Piezonka testified and said he did not intend to shoot his son, claiming he intended to shoot the motorcycle instead.

The jury rejected that account and found him guilty of first-degree murder after deliberating for less than an hour following closing arguments.

“This verdict holds the defendant accountable for the devastating and irreversible decision he made that afternoon,” McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese said. “The evidence established that he retrieved a firearm, pointed it in the direction of his own son, and fired five times as his son was attempting to leave. Five shots were fired, and five shots struck him.”