Man Charged In Birthday Party Slaying: Police

BENSENVILLE, IL – A Bensenville man is accused of fatally shooting a man in a dispute over shoes during a party, authorities said.

The shooting occurred Saturday in the 4N500 block of Church Road, in an unincorporated area west of Bensenville, police said.

Kevin Krenc, 31, was arrested on one count of first-degree murder. He is accused of killing Victor Garcia of Des Plaines, according to a news release from DuPage County prosecutors.

People were at Krenc's house on Church Road in celebration of his birthday, police said.

During the party, tensions rose over allegations that, among other things, Garcia stole a pair of shoes from someone else at the party, the news release said.

Garcia felt the allegations were disrespectful, police said.

Later, Krenc and others were in his garage when Garcia entered. Krenc pulled out a rifle he had hidden in the garage and shot Garcia five times, killing him, police said.

DuPage County sheriff's deputies arrested Krenc on Tuesday at his house without any problems, police said. While there, deputies found a rifle in a vent in the basement, according to the news release.

"The allegation that Mr. Krenc shot and killed Victor Garcia over a pair of shoes and a feeling of being disrespected is simply appalling," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in the news release. "Mr. Krenc now finds himself facing the possibility of spending the rest of his natural life behind bars for the alleged cold-blooded murder of Victor Garcia."

DuPage County Judge George Ford granted prosecutors' request to deny Krenc's release before trial.