Gang member convicted of first degree murder in Boone County

BOONE COUNTY – Boone County State’s Attorney Michelle J. Courier announced that after two hours of deliberations, a Boone County jury returned a guilty verdict of First Degree Murder, two counts of Attempt First Degree Murder, Possession of a Firearm by a Streetgang Member, and Mob Action against Ricardo Figueroa.
Figueroa was charged for his role in the shooting and killing of Giovanni Galicia in the area of 2000 Block of Lakeshore Drive on Nov. 30, 2013. He was also charged with Attempt Murder for other passengers in the vehicle.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Figueroa, along with another defendant, brandished a gun and went to the passenger side car of the vehicle in which Galicia and others were sitting. While Figueroa did not fire his gun, his actions were proven to have promoted and facilitated the shooting.
Prosecutors provided further evidence that Figueroa was a gang member and that the killing was gang related.
Figueroa’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 31, at 1:30 p.m. Figueroa is facing a sentencing range of 35 years to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the First Degree Murder charge and 21 years to 30 years for the Attempt First Degree Murder charge in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
“We are so thankful. The verdict reaffirms Boone County’s continued zero-tolerance stance against gang violence. We will continue to aggressively prosecute gang violence. We want all those responsible for the violence to be held accountable,” State’s Attorney Courier said on the verdict.