From McHenry County:
JURY FINDS CICERO MAN GUILTY OF SHOOTING CIRCLE-K CLERK DURING ARMED ROBBERY IN MARENGO
McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese announces that on April 24, 2026, Walter R. Moran, 32, of Cicero, Illinois, was found guilty following a week-long jury trial of Armed Robbery, Armed Violence, and Aggravated Battery.
During the trial, prosecutors presented witnesses and introduced hundreds of exhibits establishing a timeline that in the early morning hours of February 24, 2021,
Moran and another masked offender carried out a violent armed robbery at a Circle-K in Marengo.
At approximately 3:37 a.m., surveillance footage showed the offenders confronting the store’s lone employee, stealing money from the cash register, and demanding access to the store safe.
When the clerk was unable to open it, the offenders escalated their violence.
Moran’s co-assailant pistol-whipped the victim, forced him to the ground, and held him at gunpoint.
Moran then counted to three before shooting the clerk in the thigh.
Realizing the victim could not comply, the offenders fled the scene and entered a waiting getaway vehicle driven by a third accomplice.
The co-offenders have previously been held accountable for their roles in the crime.
The getaway driver, Gregory Garner, 32, of Chicago, pleaded guilty on October 30, 2023, and was sentenced to 13 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Antonio Pedrote, 30, also of Chicago, was identified as the second masked offender, also pleaded guilty on July 11, 2025, and was sentenced to 25 years Illinois Department of Corrections.
Moran’s case has been continued for sentencing to July 23, 2026.
“What this man did was a deliberate, cold-blooded decision to shoot a compliant, defenseless victim who posed no threat whatsoever,” said State’s Attorney Freese.
“Thanks to the tireless work of law enforcement and the commitment of our prosecution team, all individuals responsible for this crime have been brought to justice.
“While incidents like this are rare in McHenry County, we remain steadfast in our mission to protect our community and hold violent offenders fully accountable.”
State’s Attorney Freese extends her gratitude to Detective Andrew Taylor of the Marengo Police Department for his investigative work on this case and at trial and applauds the collaborative efforts of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Investigations Unit, Harvard Police Department, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, and Aurora Police Department.
Special thanks are also extended to Cook County Sheriff’s Investigator Evan Fermaint, Aurora Detective Jeff Koenings, and FBI Special Agent Jeremy Bauer of the Chicago Field Office Cellular Analysis Survey Team for their critical assistance.
This case was successfully prosecuted by Chief of Staff Ashley Romito, Special Prosecutor William Bruce, and Assistant State’s Attorney Justin Neubauer.
