Siblings Accused Of Killing Nykea Aldridge Have Long List Of Priors
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Another senseless killing and another call for tougher justice – this time, because the brothers charged with the murder of a young mother had been in prison before.
As Pam Zekman reports this case is raising a call for stricter sentencing.
This time, the victim was 32-year-old Nykea Aldridge, who was gunned down while pushing her newborn baby in a stroller Friday. Police say the mother of four was not the intended victim.
"Her life was cut short by gunfire from two convicted felons who were both out on parole," Chicago police Supt. Eddie Johnson said.
Johnson was referring to Derren Sorrells and his brother, Darwin.
Court records show that Derren was charged in 2012 with possession of stolen property and escape. He was sentenced to boot camp, and then violated the terms of his probation and was sentenced to 6 years in prison. He was paroled Aug. 12 and required to wear an electronic bracelet.
On August 26, he was allegedly involved in the shooting of Aldridge.
"He has freedom of movement, I think, between about 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.," Chicago Police Cmdr. Brendan Deenihan says. "Freedom of movement is normally to do what he had to do, possibly look for a job. Obviously, this individual chose to use his time by killing someone."
Court records show Darwin Sorrells was sentenced in 2007 to 7 ½ years in prison for battery with a firearm.
In 2011, he was sentenced to 5 years for unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.
And in 2013, he got six years for possession of stolen property but only served about half the time. He was paroled in February 2016.
"It shows that when somebody is sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections, the public is being lied to. Because if you have somebody sentenced to 10 years, you're only going to do five," says CBS 2 Legal Analyst Irv Miller.
Miller says the sentencing issue could "easily be changed by an act of the legislature."
Mayor Rahm Emmanuel agrees, saying new legislation should include a mandate for a minimum sentence of 3 years for repeat gun offenders.