On October 14, 2023, Victor Garcia, a 27-year-old resident of Des Plaines, was shot to death in an incident that occurred at a residence in the 4N500 block of Church Road, in an unincorporated area near Bensenville, Illinois. The shooting took place during a birthday party celebration for Kevin K. Krenc, the homeowner and the accused in the case.
According to the investigation, Garcia and several other individuals were at Krenc’s residence celebrating his birthday. Tensions rose during the party due to allegations that Garcia had stolen a pair of shoes from another person and felt disrespected by these accusations. Additionally, Garcia had suggested robbing the homeowner of his cocaine and was treating the homeowner's girlfriend poorly, which further escalated the situation.
Krenc, who was staying temporarily at the home, allegedly pulled out a rifle he had hidden in the garage and shot Garcia five times, resulting in his death. The shooting occurred when Garcia entered the garage where Krenc and others were present. After the incident, Krenc hid the weapon in an enclosed trailer parked on the driveway and fled the scene.
The DuPage County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call regarding an intoxicated man possibly in need of assistance, which led them to discover the alleged murder. Krenc was identified as the suspect and was taken into custody on October 17 from his residence without incident. During the investigation, deputies found a rifle hidden in a vent in the basement of the residence.
Kevin Krenc, 31, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder. He appeared in First Appearance Court on October 20, where pretrial release was denied due to the judge's determination that he posed a danger to the community and witnesses. Krenc was also noted to be on pretrial release in a separate case from Rosemont, where he was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and disorderly conduct.
If convicted, Krenc faces a minimum sentence of 45 years in prison, including 20 years for the murder and an additional 25 years for the use of a firearm. His next court appearance was scheduled for November 3 for arraignment.
