A 19-year-old Aurora man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in connection with a fatal 2023 shooting in the city, according to the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Zahmeir Andrews, who was 16 years old at the time of the shooting, remains in custody at the Kane County jail, and is next set to appear in court in September for motions and sentencing, per the State’s Attorney’s Office.
According to statements presented in court by Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Mark Stajdohar and Adam Katz, at around 7:24 p.m. Aug. 20, 2023, Aurora police received multiple 911 calls about a vehicle crash and a person shot in the 1300 block of North Glen Circle in Aurora, a news release from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office said.
Responding officers found Edwin Varela, 19, of Aurora, with gunshot wounds inside a crashed vehicle, the release said. He was taken to a local hospital by paramedics and pronounced dead a short time later, according to officials.
Prosecutors said that Varela and his girlfriend, who was in the passenger seat of the vehicle, had been planning to go to dinner that evening when Varela allegedly told her he needed to make a stop to sell illegal cannabis and vape cartridges, the news release said. The two individuals drove to the area of North Glen Circle, and Varela stopped the vehicle near three men and began discussing money with one of them, according to the release.
A fourth person, later identified as Andrews, then approached the vehicle carrying a handgun, according to the news release. The men told Varela to exit the car, and, as he attempted to drive away, Andrews began firing into the vehicle through the open driver’s-side window, the release said.
Varela was struck multiple times and the vehicle kept moving after he was shot and crashed into several parked cars, the State’s Attorney’s Office said. His girlfriend was not struck.
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Being 16 years old at the time of the shooting, Andrews was prohibited by law from possessing the handgun, the release said.
Andrews waived his right to a jury trial and had his case heard by Kane County Judge David Kliment, officials said. Andrews was ultimately found guilty of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, attempted armed robbery and unlawful possession of a weapon, per the news release from the State’s Attorney’s Office.
Two other juveniles were also identified and charged in connection with the incident, and an 18-year-old, Daniel D. Robinson, was later charged as well, but his case remains pending, the State’s Attorney’s Office said.
Andrews remains in custody at the Kane County jail, Kane County detainee records show. He is next set to appear in court on Sept. 29 for motions and sentencing, according to the State’s Attorney’s Office, and he is eligible for a discretionary 25-year enhancement because prosecutors proved that he fired the murder weapon, the release said.