Carol Stream Man Sentenced for Attempted Murder of Wife Following Car Chase, Shooting

A 38-year-old Carol Stream man has been sentenced to 31 years in prison for firing a handgun at his wife following brief chase in July 2011 in Oakbrook Terrace, prosecutors said.

Ronald D. Smith, of 754 Bluff St. in Carol Stream, was sentenced Tuesday after entering a guilty plea last month to one count of attempted murder and one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm.

The charges stem from a July 5, 2011 domestic incident invovling Smith and his wife, Aiesha Thomas. Prosecutors said Smith drove his vehicle into a car his wife was driving west on Butterfield Road near Route 83 in Oakbrook Terrace at about 3 p.m. on that day.

He forced her car off the road, approached the vehicle and opened fire, striking Thomas in the wrist, according to a DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office press release.

Thomas was picked up by a passing motorist and Smith then followed that vehicle, again opening fire before then fleeing the scene, prosecutors said.

He turned himself in at the Oakbrook Terrace Police Department at 7:30 p.m. that evening. Thomas was transported to a local hospital and treated for her injuries. She has since recovered from the shooting.

Smith has remained in custody on a $500,000 bail and will receive credit for the time served since his arrest.

“The fact that Mr. Smith opened fire in the middle of the afternoon on a busy thoroughfare demonstrates his complete disregard for human life,” said DuPage County State‘s Attorney Robert Berlin. “This is not the wild west, we live in DuPage County where public safety is our top priority.“

“Mr. Smith’s outrageous behavior should remind us all that domestic violence is not always confined to the home. It can happen anywhere at any time,” Berlin said. “Thankfully, a passing motorist came to Ms. Thomas’ aid and she was able to survive this vicious attack.”

Smith will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.