On the afternoon of January 15, 2021, 32-year-old Fernando Carapia was in the back yard of his Aurora home when he was suddenly attacked by then 22-year-old Daniel Aguirre. Carapia died of multiple gunshot wounds that same day.
Yesterday, Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser announced that a jury has found Aguirre guilty of the offense of first-degree murder. In addition, the jury found that Aguirre personally fired the gun that killed Carapia.
Aguirre faces a sentence of between 45 years and life imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The sentence includes a mandatory 25-year enhancement because Aguirre fired the gun that killed Carapia.
On the day in question, a car driven by Aguirre’s co-defendant stopped in the 300 block of South Hinman Street in Aurora. Aguirre exited the front passenger door, ran through a yard to the back of 311 S. Spencer St., and fired multiple gunshots at Carapia, who was in the backyard. Aguirre returned to the vehicle and it fled the scene. Carapia was struck by multiple bullets and died at the scene.
Authorities believe the murder was gang motivated. Carapia was not the intended target and was not a gang member.
Judge John Barsanti set Aguirre’s next court appearance for June 14, 2023, at 1:30 p.m., in Courtroom 319 at the Kane County Judicial Center for motions and sentencing. Aguirre faces a sentence of between 45 years and life imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Aguirre remains in custody at the Kane County jail, where he had been held in lieu of $1 million bail since his arrest. Judge Barsanti revoked bond upon conviction.
“The murder of Fernando Carapia was most likely the result of senseless gang bravado,” Assistant State’s Attorney Lori Anderson said after the verdict. “To say Fernando was in the wrong place at the wrong time minimizes the absurdity of the violent gang activity that continues to plague the city of Aurora and its residents.”
