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VOL. 22 • NO. 23
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s June 30, 2025.
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500 W. Jefferson St., Bensenville 630-766-0304
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WhitePinesGolf.com
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THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025
Man sentenced to 45 years for shooting innocent man in the face with a shotgun DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced last week that a DeKalb man found guilty of shooting an innocent man in the face during his dinner break from work in 2021 has been sentenced to 45 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The sentence, which was handed down by Judge Daniel Guerin, follows a three-daylong trial in April. On March 21, a jury returned a guilty verdict against Ahmad Steele, 38, after approximately two hours of deliberations. In all, the jury found Steele guilty of one count of attempted first degree murder and one count of aggravated battery with a firearm. On Jan. 28, 2021, at approximately 7:50 p.m., police officers with the West Chicago Police Department responded to Mapei Corporation on Industrial Drive for a report of a subject with a facial injury. Upon their arrival, officers discovered the victim walking around the building’s parking lot suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to his face. Authorities immediately transported the victim to a local hospital for medical attention. An investigation into the shooting found that the victim had been sitting in his vehicle in the parking lot during his dinner break from Mapei Corporation. At approximately 7:31 p.m., a Chevrolet Blazer entered the parking lot and parked several spaces away from the victim. The driver of the Chevrolet, later identified as Steele, then
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exited his vehicle with a shotgun and walked toward the victim’s vehicle. Once at the driver’s side of the victim’s vehicle, Steele Ahmad Steele raised the shotgun and fired into the vehicle, shooting the victim, whom he did not know, in the face. After the shooting, Steele initially returned to his vehicle but then went back to the victim’s vehicle and raised the shotgun at the vehicle a second time before returning to his vehicle and fleeing the scene. On Feb. 6, 2021, the Naperville Police Department observed the Chevrolet Blazer suspected to be involved in the shooting driving on Route 59. Officers conducted a traffic SUBMITTED PHOTO Bensenville Independent stop on the vehicle and took the driver, later identified as Steele, into custody for driving on a revoked license. Steele was charged with attempted first-degree murder Music in the Park returns to its classic location in downtown Bensenville this summer! Everyone’s favorite and aggravated battery with a free, family-friendly outdoor concert series begins Wednesday, June 4 and has something to offer for all musical firearm on Feb. 11, 2021, and tastes. The 2025 Music in the Park line-up includes the talents of Rocks Off, Heart to Heartbreaker, Simply Elton, appeared in Bond Court the folArra, American English, Fuze Band, Disco Circus, The Country Night, EZFM, and Kashmir. Each band starts at lowing day where Judge Craig 7:30 p.m., and a Classic Car Show starts at 6 p.m. each Wednesday. Green and Center streets adjacent to Village Belford denied bond. He has reHall will be closed to traffic and unavailable for general parking after 5 p.m. each Wednesday to allow Classic Car mained in custody at the DuPShow participants to set up their vehicles. Music in the Park will also have a variety of food vendors, ice cream, age County Jail since that time. popcorn, and more available for purchase. Come early with your blanket or lawn chair and relax to your favorite The victim, who had undersongs all summer long. For more information about Bensenville’s Music in the Park, visit Bensenville.il.us. gone five surgeries to reconstruct his jaw, passed away from an unrelated illness in 2023. Steele will be required to The Bensenville Park Dis- closed Monday, May 26, in ob- Book tee times in advance at ing programs and events, visit serve 85 percent of his sentence trict’s Deer Grove Leisure Cen- servance of Memorial Day. All WhitePinesGolf.com. BvilleParks.org or find them on before being eligible for parole. ter, 1000 W. Wood St., will be other parks are open. Fischer Farm, located at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, May 26 marks the opening 16W680 Old Grand Ave., will YouTube or LinkedIn using the of the Bensenville Water Park be open; however, the farm handle @BvilleParks. and Splash Pad, 1100 W. Wood house, farm shop and other St., from noon to 5 p.m. The buildings will be closed to the park will be open for the rest of public. the season from noon to 7 p.m. While Veterans Park will be Tuesdays through Sundays, open, the Bensenville Railroad with the exception of July 4, Museum will be closed, rewhen it is open from noon to 5 opening from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. p.m. Tuesday and noon to 4 p.m. on White Pines Golf Club will weekends. be open from dawn to dusk For more information about Memorial Day, as will its the Bensenville Park District, pro shop and 37 Bar & Grill. parks and facilities and upcom-
Music in the Park returns to downtown Bensenville June 4
Bensenville Park District announces Memorial Day hours
Speak out..........................5 Police Reports............ 4, 7, 8 Out & About ��������������������6 Sports......................... 17-19 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID ROCK VALLEY PUBLISHING LLC