4 years in prison for gunman who pleaded guilty in Waukegan shooting that left 2 women seriously injured

A man who pleaded guilty in connection with a shooting in Waukegan in which nearly 60 shots were fired and two women were seriously injured has been sentenced to four years in prison.

The shooting occurred on August 23, 2023 at around 6:15 p.m. at the Citgo gas station, 1005 Golf Road in Waukegan.

When officers arrived, they learned that two victims had been shot and were already at Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan.

When officers arrived at the hospital, they discovered that one of the female victims had driven to the hospital in her own car.

She suffered a gunshot wound and underwent surgery, a police report said.

The second female victim was taken to the hospital and dropped off there.

She was found by officers lying on the ground outside the hospital, the report said.

She was transferred to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville for surgery and admitted to the intensive care unit.

Officials secured the crime scenes at both the gas station and the hospital, which was cordoned off.

Keith Turner, city councilor for Waukegan's Sixth District, in whose district the shooting occurred, said at least 57 shots were fired during the shooting.

Several residential buildings were also hit by the gunfire, Turner said. At least two cars were also hit.

DeShawn L. Boyd, 29, of Grayslake, and Jonathan M. Cunningham, 20, whose last known address is unknown, were both charged in early September 2023 with one count of discharging a firearm and one count of illegal possession of a firearm.

Boyd was additionally charged with armed habitual criminality. The two men were arrested in October 2023.

Lake County Assistant Prosecutor Dino Katris said during a court hearing that Boyd and Cunningham were hanging out at the gas station with several other people, including the two female victims.

Twenty minutes later, four masked suspects arrived and shot at the group, injuring the two women.

Surveillance video shows a white sedan parking and the four suspects then walking toward the Citgo before opening fire, Katris said.

The four suspects ran back to their car and drove away.

Katris said Boyd and Cunningham ran toward Linden Avenue, pulled out their firearms and began firing at the vehicle.

Boyd and Cunningham fired the shots “long after” the suspect's vehicle had already left the gas station and was far down the residential street, Katris said.

Katris said video surveillance showed Boyd and Cunningham were not in immediate danger when they fired the shots.

The two men are also convicted felons and are not allowed to possess weapons. Boyd and Cunningham were both booked into the Lake County Jail following their arrests pending trial.

Court records show that Cunningham pleaded guilty last month to illegal possession of a firearm (a Class 3 felony) in exchange for having all other charges against him dropped.

As part of the agreement, he was sentenced to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC).

Cunningham will receive 293 days of credit for time spent in custody. He is expected to be released from prison on parole on Oct. 6, according to IDOC records.

Boyd was sentenced to nine years in IDOC in May after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm with enhanced penalty, a Class 2 felony.