Two men who killed a 60-year-old man on an expressway shooting nearly four years ago while on pretrial release for felony firearms charges have pleaded guilty. Joshua Concepcion, 22, and Alexis Perez, 20, were sentenced to 15 and 12 years, respectively, according to court records.
Around 4:19 a.m. on November 18, 2021, Federico Bautista was heading to work in McKinley Park when Perez, driving a stolen Jeep in the opposite direction on Damen Avenue, observed him and made a U-turn, according to prosecutors.
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Perez allegedly followed Bautista onto the Stevenson Expressway and drew up alongside his car as the two drove inbound near Loomis Boulevard. Prosecutors say Concepcion fired 14 shots from the back passenger seat of Perez’s stolen Jeep, hitting Bautista in the shoulder and twice in the abdomen.
Bautista’s automobile came to a halt on the shoulder and remained there for 90 minutes until a passing motorist discovered it had been hit by gunfire and alerted authorities.
According to authorities, shortly after the shooting, Concepcion met with two other individuals and showed them a weapon, saying that he had just shot someone on the road.
In Facebook messages, Concepcion allegedly asked Perez if he had taken care of disposing of the Jeep, to which Perez responded that the vehicle was in his garage. Concepcion responded by saying he would “f*** up” Perez if he was charged with murder solely because Perez wanted to keep a stolen car.
Investigators finally found the Jeep and discovered Concepcion’s DNA on the interior door handles and rear passenger side, according to prosecutors. Police also discovered gunshot residue on the Jeep’s back passenger side, and cellphone location data allegedly showed Concepcion near the crime scene.
Someone shot Perez while the police investigation was ongoing, and officers began questioning with him about Bautista’s murder, according to prosecutors. He exercised his right to be silent.
Both men have now pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in exchange for sentences imposed by Judge Timothy Joyce. If they behave well, they will be released after completing half of their prison sentences.
