Elgin Man Convicted Of Killing High Schooler Over Backpack
ST. CHARLES, Ill. (CBS) -- An Elgin man has been convicted of stabbing a high school student to death last year while trying to rob the boy of a backpack.
Joshua D. Dunbar, 20, was found guilty of first-degree murder and attempted armed robbery late Thursday by a Kane County jury.
Dunbar, of the 600 block of Margaret Place in Elgin, faces up to 60 years in prison. His sentencing date will be set next week.
Prosecutors said that on the night of May 22, 2010, Dunbar and co-defendant Christopher D. Peralta walked up to Larkin High School sophomore Edgar Guerra-Guzman near a park in the 300 block of North Jackson Street.
Peralta pulled a black ski mask over his face and he and Dunbar allegedly tried to steal Guerra-Guzman's backpack, but the 16-year-old resisted, according to prosecutors. During the struggle, the boy fell on his back and Dunbar sat on top of him and stabbed him in the heart, killing him.
Dunbar was due back in court at 9 a.m. on Feb. 16 to set a date for his sentencing hearing. He faces between 20 and 60 years in prison, prosecutors said.
He has been held in the Kane County jail on $1.5 million bond, which was revoked upon his conviction.
Peralta has yet to be tried for his role in the murder. He is charged with three counts of murder, one count of attempted armed robbery, and one count of attempted robbery.
Peralta's next court date is March 24. He remains in custody at the Kane County Jail.
