People v. Gomez

Ben Gomez (defendant), and two codefendants (Jacob Santana and Jesse Alanis) whose cases are not before us, were tried for murder (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 9—1(a)(1)) and armed violence (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 33A—2) in a joint bench trial. Defendant was convicted of murder and found not guilty of armed violence. He was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment.

The parties stipulated: The victim, 17-year-old Serafín Gonzalez, died of multiple gunshot wounds. Pellets from two different caliber guns, four .32-caliber and two .22-caliber, were found at the scene. An additional…