July 21, 2010 5:42 PM
Unconvinced that an Aurora man accidentally shot and killed his ex-girlfriend when he pointed a handgun at her, a Cook County jury today convicted him of first-degree murder.
Sergio Hernandez, 24, of the 500 block of High Street, was convicted in Rolling Meadows branch court in the 2008 death of Rocio Munoz-Ramos, 26, of Elgin.
The jury deliberated for about two hours, and also convicted Hernandez of aggravated discharge of a firearm.
Judge Thomas Fecarotta Jr. set sentencing for Aug. 23. Hernandez faces a sentenced of 45 to 85 years in prison.
Authorities have said Munoz-Ramos and Hernandez knew each other in Mexico and were romantically involved until an incident of domestic violence led her to end the relationship and obtain and order of protection. No charges were filed in that incident, authorities said.
Munoz-Ramos had just left her hairstyling job in Hanover Park on Nov. 8, 2008, and was sitting behind the wheel of her car, waiting for her new boyfriend to get in. Before they could drive off, Hernandez approached the car and fired one shot, striking her in the back of the head, prosecutors said.
The domestic violence incident, which was not allowed as evidence in the trial, led police to Hernandez.
In a videotaped statement played for the jury in Spanish with English subtitles, Hernandez told police investigators that he pointed the gun at Munoz-Ramos but shot her accidentally. He told police he threw the gun in the Fox River. It was never recovered.
Defense attorneys argued that Hernandez did not intend to kill Munoz-Ramos and the gun went off because of a sensitive trigger.
-- George Houde
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