A North Chicago man, who authorities say arranged to meet a longtime friend to an alley and then shot him to death during an altercation, was sentenced Wednesday to 28 years in prison.
Undra Bailey, 34, had been found guilty earlier this year in Lake County for the second-degree murder of John Collins of North Chicago, who was shot to death on Oct. 22, 2016.
Judge Victoria Rossetti handed down the sentence after listening to victim impact statements from family members of Collins, who was 28 when he died.
His 12-year-old son, John Collins Jr., said he had lost his innocence as a result of the crime.
“I lost a connection, and you took that away, and I can never get it back,” Collins told Bailey, who was quietly crying.
The victim’s sister, Beverly, described how her brother and Bailey had been friends growing up together in the same Chicago neighborhood, and had remained friends when both moved to the Waukegan area.
Although the men had been close, in October 2016, their relationship had deteriorated, and authorities say Collins was looking for Bailey, intent on a fight. The two met in an alleyway, and Bailey shot Collins after Collins rushed at him and pushed him.
Bailey then fled, but was arrested after police found security camera footage that captured the crime.
Before sentencing, Bailey apologized to the Collins family members who were in court.
“Murder was not what I intended,” he said. “I also lost a friend who was like family.”
Bailey had contended at trial that he acted in self-defense, but the judge said Bailey’s belief was not reasonable. He had been found guilty of second-degree murder, which usually carries a 20-year maximum term. However, he was eligible for 30 years based on prior convictions.
Assistant State’s Attorney Stella Day asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence on Bailey
“He took a life, the life of a friend,” Day said.
After the sentencing, State’s Attorney Mike Nerheim said, “I hope this sentence brings some sense of justice to the family of John Collins, and helps them in their healing process.”
