Man receives 35-year prison sentence for murder of teen in 2009 case

A Chicago man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for a 2009 gang-related shooting that left a16 year-old dead and two others wounded, according to the office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Cortez Powell, 30, was charged and convicted of the murder of Damier Love, 16, who was killed in a shooting that occurred on the city’s west side in 2009.  Cook County Judge Thomas Hennelley sentenced Powell to 35 years in state prison for the murder during a hearing at the George Leighton Criminal Courts Building in Chicago this week.

According to prosecutors, during the early hours of April 9, 2009 Powell and co-defendant Brian Ward went out looking to shoot rival gang members.   The pair saw the victim and two other men as they stood in front of a liquor store in the 5300 block of West Chicago.  Ward allegedly approached love and shot him several times, killing him.  Powell was also armed with a gun and fired his weapon.  Two other men were shot during the incident but survived. 

Ward is currently awaiting trial with his next court appearance scheduled for June 26, 2013. 

State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Martin Moore and Joseph Lattanzio and the Chicago Police Department for their work on this case.