Suburban man sentenced to 32 years after fatal 2021 Gurnee Mills shooting

GURNEE MILLS, Ill. – A Vernon Hills man has been sentenced to 32 years in prison after fatally shooting a man in the Gurnee Mills parking lot in 2021.

Joey Gonzalez, 27, was convicted June 14 after a five-day trial of second-degree murder, aggravated battery of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.

On November 27, 2021, Gurnee officers responded to a report of shots fired in the Gurnee Mills parking lot, where they found 26-year-old Jonathan Denicolas, who was being helped by a Good Samaritan. Denicolas was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries a few hours later.

Gonzalez claimed self-defense, but the jury rejected that argument, according to Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart.

During the sentencing hearing, a Lake County judge heard evidence from two separate gun incidents involving Gonzalez after the shooting, and a victim impact statement written by the victim’s mother.

In the statement read in open court, the victim’s mother described him as a playful, loving young man and said Gonzalez had taken over much of her and her family’s lives.

Prosecutors said Gonzalez especially should have known the dangers of a firearm since he was charged in March 2017 with involuntary manslaughter, two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon after accidentally shooting and killing him. his friend. Gonzalez pleaded guilty in December 2017 to one count of involuntary manslaughter.

Gonzalez must serve at least 85% of his current 32-year sentence. He received 792 days of credit for service.