Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that a former Carol Stream man accused of firing a handgun at a vehicle occupied by his ex-girlfriend and another individual has been sentenced to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Dejonte Parks, 27 (d.o.b. 4/2/1997), formerly of the 200 block of E. St. Charles Road, appeared at his sentencing hearing this morning in front of Judge Daniel Guerin, who handed down the sentence. On May 6, 2022, Parks appeared in Bond Court where Judge Guerin set bond at $250,000 with 10% to apply. He has remained in custody at the DuPage County Jail since that time. On May 14, 2024, Parks entered a guilty plea to one count of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, a Class 1 Felony.

On May 4, 2022, at approximately 9:11 p.m., officers with the Wheaton Police Department responded to a call of shots fired in the area of the 700 block of N. Wheaton Avenue. Following an investigation into the matter, authorities learned that the victims’ vehicle was driving southbound on Schmale Road when Parks pulled up next to them and displayed a gun. As the victims continued driving, Parks followed them to Wheaton Avenue where he fired multiple rounds toward the vehicle, striking it once in the driver’s side wheel well. Following the shooting, Parks fled the area. Parks was taken into custody from his home the following day without incident.

“The complete and utter disregard for public safety Mr. Parks displayed by opening fire at an occupied vehicle is alarming,” Berlin said. “His actions put not only the occupants of the vehicle at great risk but also put an entire residential neighborhood in danger. Thankfully no one in the vehicle was harmed and no stray bullets found their way into a home or struck an innocent pedestrian. This type of behavior will most certainly not be tolerated in DuPage County and for his actions, Mr. Parks now finds himself facing a seven-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections. I thank Assistant State’s Attorney Alyssa Rabulinski for not only her efforts in holding Mr. Parks responsible for his actions but also for her continued work in keeping our neighborhoods safe.”

Parks will be required to serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole. He will receive credit for time served in the DuPage County Jail from May 5, 2022 through August 14, 2024.