CHICAGO (AP) – Jurors have convicted one of two men charged in the 2013 death of a 15-year-old high school honor student who became a symbol of Chicago gun violence.
A Cook County jury found Kenneth Williams guilty Wednesday of first-degree murder in the death of Hadiya Pendleton.
Williams was accused of being the getaway driver. Separate juries were empaneled to hear the evidence against him and against the alleged gunman, Micheail Ward. Prosecutors alleged Ward fired into a crowd of high school students at a park that he mistook for rival gang members.
Williams’ lawyer called one witness in his defense. Gang expert Lance Williams contended police had no evidence proving the shooting was gang related.
