A man from Roselle was sentenced to 45 years in prison for opening fire in a suburban restaurant and shooting a 20-year-old in the head, DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin said on Wednesday.
Jaime Quijano, 26, was sentenced after he was found guilty of two counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery with a firearm and one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm at a person, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s office said.
Quijano was first arrested on July 16, 2022, shortly after the shooting, authorities said. He has remained in DuPage County Jail since he was arrested.
The shooting occurred after Quijano was asked to leave the Bulldog Ale House, located at 394 Irving Park Road in Roselle, authorities said.
Quijano “became angry” after being asked to leave and “began cursing at employees” and “exchanged words with employees of the establishment before walking away from the bar as to exit,” according to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s office.
As he walked away, Quijano “unzipped a black satchel that was around his chest and removed a loaded handgun,” authorities said.
He then turned around, pointed the gun at the employees and fired before pointing the gun at several employees and patrons who were at the restaurant’s bar and fired, authorities said.
He continued firing the gun behind him as he walked toward the exit and then fired a final round through a glass door into the restaurant as he walked out of the building before fleeing, authorities said.
A 20-year-old woman was shot in the head, authorities said. She was initially in critical condition but later recovered.
“Quijano fired eighteen shots into a crowded bar sending patrons scrambling for safety, leaving one innocent young woman in her 20s fighting for her life,” Berlin said. “This unconscionable act of violence not only nearly cost a woman her life, but also terrorized an entire community.”
He is required to serve 85% of his sentence before he will be eligible for parole.
“We are all extremely grateful that the victim in this case is still with us today and wish her strength as she continues on her lifetime journey of psychological and physical recovery. I commend the Roselle Police Department whose quick response and outstanding police work led to Mr. Quijano’s apprehension just hours after the shooting,” Berlin said.
