Man Sentenced After Shooting Man At Darien Walmart In 2015

DARIEN, IL —A Downers Grove man accused of shooting another man at a Darien Walmart in 2015 has been sentenced to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, the DuPage County State’s Attorney's Office said. Bradley Morris, 22, entered a plea of guilty on Thursday to one count of aggravated battery-discharge of a firearm.

According to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, on Dec. 3, 2015, at 5:40 p.m., officers with the Darien Police Department responded to a call of shots fired in the Walmart store located on 75th Street. When they got to the store, the officers learned that there was a verbal altercation in the store between Morris and the victim.

The State's Attorney's Office said the altercation turned physical in the vestibule of the store and then Morris pulled a gun and shot four times at his victim, striking him once in the back of his right shoulder. Following the shooting, Morris fled the scene. An investigation into the shooting led authorities to Morris, who was apprehended on Dec. 5 at a bus station in Chicago as he attempted to board a bus bound for Florida.

Morris appeared in bond court on Dec. 7, 2015 where bond was set at $3 million with 10 percent to apply. He has remained in custody since that time. The victim has since recovered from his injuries.

“This morning, Mr. Morris learned that he will pay a heavy price for his decision to open fire at a crowded store during the busiest shopping season of the year,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a release. “Thankfully, no innocent bystanders were injured or worse, killed, by Mr. Morris’ incredibly dangerous behavior."

Morris will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole. He will receive credit for time already served in custody.

Photo provided by DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.