Aurora man sentenced to 10 years in prison for 2018 Boulder Hill drive-by shooting

YORKVILLE – An Aurora man has been sentenced following charges in connection with a shooting incident in Boulder Hill that occurred in early 2018.

Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weis wrote in a Friday, Aug. 28 news release Kenzail M. Taylor, 23, of the 400 block of Sherman Avenue, Aurora, was sentenced to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections by Kendall County Judge Melissa Barnhart last week for aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony. Taylor had pleaded guilty and entered into an agreed sentence, according to Weis.

Taylor must serve 85% of his 10 year sentence, according to the state's attorney's office. He also will be required to serve a term of two years of parole.

The charges followed an investigation that began back in January 2018, when a home on Amesbury Road in Boulder Hill was shot multiple times by Taylor as he and a co-defendant drove by the home, Weis wrote.

Nikko Najee Muhammad, 19, of the 1300 block of 4th Street, Aurora, also had been arrested and charged with felony aggravated discharge of a firearm in connection to the incident.

According to Weis, one of the residents of the home was outside and witnessed Taylor firing a gun at the home. No one was injured in the shooting.

The vehicle involved in the shooting later was spotted parked in Aurora by members of the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office, according to Weis. Taylor was found with the co-defendant, who was the driver, in a nearby residence, Weis wrote.

Multiple illegal firearms, including the weapon used in the drive-by shooting, were recovered in a search, Weis wrote. Investigators later learned the shooting was the result of a money dispute.

Former Kendall County Judge Tim McCann initially set bond for Taylor at $500,000 in January 2018, with 10% to post, according to court records. Taylor's bond later was reduced to $250,000.

Taylor has been in custody since his arrest back in January 2018, according to the state's attorney's office. Taylor was listed as still in custody at the Kendall County Jail as of 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, according to jail records.

The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office, Aurora Police Department and the Kendall County Cooperative Police Assistance Team, or CPAT, contributed to the investigation.

Assistant State’s Attorney Frank Gorup prosecuted the case, Weis wrote. Attorney Alex Bederka represented Taylor.