Joliet man sentenced to 31 years for attempted murder in gas station shooting

June 5

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James W. Glasgow announced today that Anthony D. White, 26, has been sentenced to 31 years in prison for an attempted murder that left a Joliet man paralyzed two years ago.

White, of 111 E Zarley Blvd., Joliet, shot Marcus Smith, 33, at a Joliet gas station on February 9, 2013. Smith was critically wounded and hospitalized.

White and three other individuals attacked Smith at the Citgo at 379 S. Chicago St. in Joliet. Surveillance video from the gas station shows that White grabbed a gun out of his car and shot Smith during the dispute. White was on parole at the time of the shooting after serving five years in prison for an aggravated discharge of a firearm conviction in 2008. The motive for the shooting is unclear.

Circuit Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes handed down the sentence Friday after the defendant pleaded guilty to the attempted murder charge on February 25.

“Anthony White’s callous brutality has forever changed the lives of Marcus Smith and his family,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “The defendant’s willingness to shoot his gun with seemingly no provocation has left Mr. Smith paralyzed below the neck. He has earned every minute of his lengthy prison sentence.”

State’s Attorney Glasgow credited prosecutor Mark Fleszewski for securing this conviction and sentence.