‘Unprovoked, senseless’: Bensenville man given 30 years for killing partygoer amid dispute over stolen shoes

DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. (WGN) — A Bensenville man who fatally shot another man during a dispute over stolen shoes has been handed a three-decade prison sentence.

32-year-old Kevin Krenc, who pleaded guilty to fatally shooting Victor Garcia during a party in October of 2023, has been sentenced to thirty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced Thursday.

According to prosecutors, the deadly shooting happened on Oct. 14, 2023, amid a dispute that unfolded during a birthday party Krenc was hosting for himself at his home, located along Church Road in unincorporated Bensenville.

The investigation began that day when officers were called to an area near Route 83 and Third Avenue following a report of an intoxicated man in need of assistance. When they arrived, they spoke with the man who informed them of a murder that had unfolded earlier that day along Church Road.

Prosecutors said further investigation later revealed that the murder occurred during the party at Krenc’s home.

Authorities said several people were in attendance, but during the gathering, tensions rose among attendees following allegations that Garcia had allegedly stolen a pair of shoes from Krenc at the party, something prosecutors said Garcia felt disrespected by.

Later on during the party, while Krenc and several others were gathered in the garage of the home, Garcia entered. Prosecutors said that is when Krenc pulled out a rifle he had hidden in the garage and shot Garcia five times.

According to prosecutors, following the shooting, Krenc hid the weapon in an enclosed trailer parked in the driveway and fled the scene.

Three days later, on Oct. 17, Krenc was identified as a suspect in the murder and taken into custody.

Following his arrest, deputies with the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office located a rifle in a vent in the basement of his home.

“For the unprovoked, senseless killing of Victor Garcia, a father of three with a fourth child on the way at the time of his murder, Kevin Krenc will spend the next thirty years of his life away from society, where he will be unable to harm anyone,” Berlin said. “The fact that Mr. Krenc took responsibility for Victor’s murder I’m sure is of no consequence to Victor’s family and friends who must now move forward in their lives without the love and companionship he once provided.”

During a court appearance on Oct. 20, 2023, Krenc was denied pre-trial release and remained in custody at the DuPage County Jail.

On Thursday, Krenc entered a plea of guilty to one count of first-degree murder and his sentence was handed down shortly after.

Krenc will be required to serve 100% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.