A 25-year-old man has been found guilty of first-degree murder after four people were stabbed — one fatally — at a Waukegan restaurant in 2018.
Jonathon Celis, 25, of Waukegan, faces up to 60 years in prison after a Lake County jury found him guilty on one count of first-degree murder.
The jury returned the verdict around 10 p.m. Thursday in front of Lake County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Fix. Celis is due back in court on April 8 for a status hearing.
“I am extremely proud of the hard work and excellent investigative skills performed by members of the Waukegan Police Department and employees at the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office in proving this case,” Lake County State’s Attorney Nerheim said.
The Waukegan Police Department was called to La Canoa Restaurant, 50 South Green Bay Road in Waukegan, at 2 a.m. on February 24, 2018 for a report of a large fight in the parking lot.
Officers arrived and found four people who were stabbed during a fight. All four of the victims were described as males in their 20s from the Lake County area. They were transported by ambulances to area hospitals.
One of the victims, 28-year-old Oscar R. Castaneda, later died during emergency surgery as a result of his injuries, police said.
Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper said that Castaneda, of Waukegan, died from extensive blood loss as a result of the stab wounds. He died during emergency surgery.
Prosecutors said that Celis was taken into custody by officers after security personnel from La Canoa Restaurant stopped the man from leaving and pointed him out to police.
“I hope this verdict helps bring some comfort to Mr. Casteneda’s family, and brings them a step closer to some closure,” Nerheim said on Friday.