Crime & Safety
Kane County, IL Murder Case: Aurora Man Gets 33-Year Sentence
Aurora, IL – A 19 year old Aurora man has been sentenced to 33 years in prison for the 2023 shooting death of Edwin Varela, a case that began with reports of gunfire and a vehicle crash in Kane County
By Elliot Vaughn · 2026-09-30T16:04:45.305Z
Aurora, IL – A 19 year old Aurora man has been sentenced to 33 years in prison for the 2023 shooting death of Edwin Varela, a case that began with reports of gunfire and a vehicle crash in Kane County.
According to the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, Judge David Kliment sentenced Zahmeir Andrews on Wednesday following convictions that included first degree murder, attempted first degree murder, attempted armed robbery and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Prosecutors said Aurora police received several 911 calls at about 7:24 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, reporting a crash and a person shot in the 1300 block of North Glen Circle. Officers found 19 year old Varela suffering from gunshot wounds inside a crashed vehicle.
Varela was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Evidence presented at trial showed Varela and his girlfriend had been heading to dinner when Varela stopped to sell cannabis and vape cartridges, prosecutors said. While Varela was discussing payment with three people, Andrews, who was 16 at the time, approached the vehicle carrying a handgun.
Prosecutors said Varela attempted to drive away when Andrews opened fire. Varela was struck multiple times in the upper body, and his vehicle continued moving before crashing into parked cars. His girlfriend was not struck.
Andrews received 25 years for first degree murder and eight years for attempted first degree murder, with the sentences ordered to run consecutively. He also received concurrent sentences of four years for attempted armed robbery and two years for unlawful possession of a weapon.
The state’s attorney’s office said Andrews must serve the full 25 year murder sentence and 85% of the attempted murder sentence. He received credit for 1,133 days already served in the Kane County Jail.
Another defendant’s case remains pending, and that defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.