Man Sentenced To 50 Years In Connection With West Chicago Murder

WEST CHICAGO, IL — A 31-year-old man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison in connection with the murder of Alexander Nicolas, who was fatally shot in the head in West Chicago in 2018.

Emilio Guillen, of Rockford, was convicted after a three-day double-jury trial that was conducted in September. His codefendant, Juan Calderon, 25, of Aurora, was also found guilty, but has yet to be sentenced. His sentencing hearing is set for Feb. 3.

Police were called to the 600 block of East Forest Avenue in West Chicago around 7:35 a.m. on Nov. 9, 2018, after Nicolas was found on the ground bleeding from the head. An investigation led police to discover that Guillen and Calderon attacked Nicolas and shot him in the head around 11:19 p.m. the previous night. They then fled the scene.

“After being presented with overwhelming evidence of the defendants’ guilt, two independent juries found Juan Calderon and Emilio Guillen guilty of brutally beating and shooting Alexander Nicolas in the back of the head simply because they believed he belonged to a rival gang," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

He added, “This senseless killing has left a permanent void in the lives of Alexander’s family and friends and I offer my condolences to them on their loss."

Guillen must serve his entire sentence before he becomes eligible for parole.