CHICAGO — A seven-time convicted felon has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after he was shot by a concealed carry holder during an attempted murder in West Humboldt Park in 2022, prosecutors confirmed.
Attempted Ambush Turns on the Shooter
The incident happened shortly after midnight on August 22, 2022, in the 5500 block of West Crystal. Prosecutors say Willie Barnes, 45, pulled up in a vehicle wearing a ski mask and opened fire on another man who had just parked his car.
The intended target, a licensed concealed carry holder, had just dropped off a female friend and was returning to his residence when the ambush occurred. The man returned fire in self-defense, striking Barnes in the abdomen.
Not a Carjacking — It Was Personal
While initial reports pointed to a possible carjacking, investigators later found that Barnes had a child with the woman the victim escorted home earlier that night — suggesting a personal motive in the attack.
According to prosecutors, the victim held Barnes at gunpoint and called 911 while Barnes reportedly pleaded for help, saying he “wanted to live and heal.”
Two ShotSpotter alerts were triggered around 1:27 a.m., helping officers quickly locate the scene.
Officers Found Barnes Wounded Behind Vehicle
Police later found Barnes hiding behind a Buick, allegedly trying to stash his gun and ski mask near the rear tire. He was taken into custody while critically wounded. The victim, who was uninjured, remained at the scene and cooperated with police.
Barnes Was Already Facing Multiple Charges
At the time of the shooting, Barnes was out on bail for a Class X armed habitual criminal charge and under supervised release for a prior federal drug case. In 2023, he was sentenced to 10 years for that drug conviction.
His criminal history dates back to at least 2003, including two robberies and a carjacking.
20-Year Sentence Handed Down
Cook County Judge Angela Munari-Petrone sentenced Barnes to:
-
17 years for attempted murder
-
3 additional years for being a felon in possession of a firearm
Barnes pleaded guilty to both charges. His anticipated parole date has not been made public by the Illinois Department of Corrections.
What are your thoughts on concealed carry rights and repeat offenders in Chicago? Let us know in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
