A Waukegan man charged in a 2018 stabbing that left three people injured and one person dead was found guilty this week of first-degree murder.
At 10 p.m. on Thursday, a Lake County jury convicted Jonathan Celis, 25, of the murder of 28-year-old Oscar Castaneda, who was stabbed by Celis in a large fight in the parking lot of a Waukegan restaurant on Feb. 24, 2018.
The fight, authorities said, broke out around 2 a.m. at La Canoa restaurant off Green Bay Road. Celis was apprehended by police after the restaurant’s security prevented him from leaving.
Authorities later said Castaneda died during emergency surgery due to extensive blood loss from his injuries. Three other people were stabbed during the incident.
Celis, whose next court date is April 8, faces up to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim.
“I am extremely proud of the hard work and excellent investigative skills performed by members of the Waukegan Police Department and employees at the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office in proving this case,” Nerheim said.
“I hope this verdict helps bring some comfort to Mr. Casteneda’s family, and brings them a step closer to some closure,” he added.
Grant Morgan is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.