A DeKalb man has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for a shocking and unprovoked shooting that occurred during a dinner break outside a West Chicago workplace in 2021.

The Incident

On January 28, 2021, at approximately 7:50 p.m., West Chicago police responded to a report of a man with a facial injury in the parking lot of Mapei Corporation on Industrial Drive. Upon arrival, officers found the victim walking with an apparent gunshot wound to his face. He was transported to a local hospital and underwent five surgeries to reconstruct his jaw. Tragically, he passed away in 2023 from an unrelated illness.

The Investigation and Arrest

Investigators determined that the victim had been sitting in his vehicle during a dinner break when a Chevrolet Blazer parked nearby. The driver, later identified as 38-year-old Ahmad Steele of DeKalb, exited the vehicle with a shotgun, approached the driver’s side of the victim’s car, and fired into it, striking the victim in the face. Steele then returned to his vehicle but came back a second time, raised the shotgun again, and then left the scene.

On February 6, 2021, Naperville police spotted the Blazer driving on Route 59 and conducted a traffic stop. Steele was taken into custody for driving with a revoked license. He was later charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm on February 11, 2021, and has remained in custody without bond at the DuPage County Jail since then.

The Trial and Sentencing

In March 2025, a DuPage County jury found Steele guilty of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm. Both convictions are Class X felonies, with the attempted murder charge carrying a mandatory firearm enhancement of 25 years to natural life. Judge Daniel Guerin presided over the trial and sentenced Steele to 45 years in prison. Under Illinois law, Steele must serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

Community Impact

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin condemned the attack, stating, “This violent, unprovoked attack inflicted unimaginable physical and emotional pain on an innocent man and forever changed his life.” He expressed gratitude to the jury for their service and to the assistant state’s attorneys who prosecuted the case.

The random nature of this act of violence has deeply affected the community, highlighting concerns about workplace safety and the importance of addressing gun violence.