Lester Sanders Jr., a 30-year-old African American man, was shot and killed on May 24, 2017, on Sablewood Drive in Rockford, Illinois. He was struck in the back while walking to his apartment after a drive-by shooting at his building. Sanders was not involved in the altercation that led up to the shooting and was an unintended target.

Investigators tied the shooting to escalating arguments between two teenage girls and their acquaintances. Two men, Deon Hart, 23, and Van Richardson, 28, were convicted after evidence and witness testimony — including from one of the teenage girls — showed both fired shots at the apartment building. Hart was found guilty of first-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm and received a 65-year prison term; Richardson was convicted of first-degree murder and also given a lengthy sentence.

Anyone who knew Sanders or who has information about the events that night is encouraged to come forward.