Chicago man gets 68 years for 2007 Plainfield murder

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July 11

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced today that a judge sentenced a Chicago man to 68 years in prison for gunning down another man in Plainfield in 2007.

A jury in March found Ricardo Gutierrez, 24, guilty in the shooting death of Javier Barrios on Oct. 28, 2007 near a Plainfield Meijer store. Circuit Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes sentenced Gutierrez Wednesday afternoon. He must serve 100 percent of his sentence.

Gutierrez shot Barrios twice in the back of the head after the victim ran for safety from his vehicle. Barrios fled because he already had been shot once in the right side by an alleged accomplice while he was sitting inside the car, according to trial testimony.

Barrios exited the vehicle and ran through a field near the shopping center with Gutierrez in pursuit. After Barrios collapsed face-forward on the ground, Gutierrez stood over him and shot him twice in the back of the head.  After the shooting, the defendant and co-defendant went to see the horror movie Saw IV.

“This ruthless killer executed a defenseless man in cold blood on a busy thoroughfare in Plainfield,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow.  “The sentence handed down by Judge Policandriotes effectively takes a dangerous murderer off our streets for the rest of his life.”

Assistant State’s Attorneys Frank Byers, Tricia McKenna and Dan Walsh secured the conviction and sentence. The case was investigated by the Plainfield Police Department.

Another defendant, Gabriela Escutia, 24, also faces charges of first-degree murder in connection with this case. The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office reminds the public that charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.