Jonathan Kelly’s murder trial wrapped up Monday as the jury returned guilty verdicts on all three charges the 29-year old Galesburg man was facing.Kelly was found guilty on counts of first degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm and felony possession of a weapon in relation to the shooting death of 26-year old Jenni McGruder last Easter, behind the Seminary Street Pub.
Judge Scott Shiplett’s courtroom was bursting with emotion as the clerk read the jury’s decision, convicting Kelly of the murder of Jenni McGruder last Easter.
Family members of Kelly and McGruder were in the courtroom.
The defense had tried to argue that their could have been a second shooter that night behind the Seminary Street Pub.
ASA Andrew Stuckart argued in his closing that you would have to make a lot of assumptions to think that no one else saw a second shooter, while three witnesses gave testimony they saw Kelly fire a gun.
Kelly will be sentenced on May 10. He faces 45 years to life in the Department of Corrections
