Enrique Hernandez, a 27-year-old Hispanic male, was tragically killed on November 20, 2015, in West Chicago, Illinois. His body was discovered on the side of the road near High Lake and DuPage avenues around 11 p.m. that night. He was taken to Central DuPage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The DuPage County Sheriff's Office identified Hernandez as a documented gang member and believed he was targeted in an isolated incident.
The investigation revealed that Hernandez was shot in the head by his cousin, James Hernandez, while they were in a car. After the shooting, James stole Enrique's cell phone, wallet, and money clip before pushing his body out of the car. James Hernandez, 22 at the time, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He was held at the DuPage County Jail on a $2 million bail and later pleaded guilty to the murder. In January 2018, James was sentenced to 35 years in prison and will be required to serve 100% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
The case was marked by the tragic nature of familial betrayal and the violent end of a young man's life. Enrique Hernandez's death was a significant event in the West Chicago community, highlighting issues of gang violence and the devastating impact it can have on families. The legal proceedings concluded with James Hernandez's conviction, bringing some measure of justice to the victim's family and the community.
