Kankakee, Illinois – A Kankakee man was found guilty by a jury on attempted murder charges, concluding a multi-year shooting case that drew significant local attention.
According to the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office, Arthur Hopewell, 49, of Kankakee, was convicted Wednesday of Attempted First Degree Murder and Aggravated Battery with a Firearm. The charges stem from a shooting in which a woman was shot multiple times and survived.
Prosecutors said the conviction was based on testimony from the survivor, civilian witnesses, and law enforcement officers, as well as investigative work conducted by the Kankakee Police Department. Authorities credited the survivor’s testimony as a key factor in the jury’s decision.
The case was prosecuted by Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe and Assistant State’s Attorney Sabrina Ostrom. Victim advocacy support was provided through Harbor House, the Kankakee County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the State’s Attorney’s Victim and Witness Division, officials said.
Court officials also noted the role of courtroom technology staff in supporting the trial proceedings. A retired Kankakee Police Department detective reportedly testified after returning from retirement to assist with the case.
Hopewell now faces a sentence of 31 years in prison, to be served at 85 percent under Illinois law. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
The case has been closely followed by residents and commuters in the Kankakee area due to its severity and length, with the investigation spanning several years before reaching trial.
Sentencing will take place at a later date.
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