Feb. 27--A Chicago gang member was found guilty Friday in connection with the 2012 slaying of a 17-year-old girl was she sat in a car in the McKinley Park neighborhood, prosecutors said.
Joseph Sanders, 23, of the 2400 block of West 35th Street, was convicted of second degree murder in the death of Taylor Diorio of Chicago Ridge, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's office.
Diorio was shot in the head in the 2400 block of West 35th Street about 5 a.m. on Aug. 18, 2012. She was shot on the street where Sanders lived at the time.
Prosecutors said Diorio was the front seat passenger of a vehicle driving on Sanders' block when it stopped in front of Sanders' home. According to prosecutors when it stopped another passenger briefly exited the vehicle and Sanders claimed that when he looked out of a second floor window a bottle was thrown at him.
Sanders got a gun and fired at the vehicle, hitting Diorio in the right side of her head. The passenger then reentered the car and the driver went to a local hospital where the girl was pronounced dead.
Sanders was found guilty on Thursday after a four day jury trial at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building.
Sanders' next court date is March 24 for post-trial motions and sentencing.
