Attempted murder charge dropped in Machesney Park bar shooting

MACHESNEY PARK, Ill. (WTVO) — A man accused of attempted murder after shooting multiple victims at a Machesney Park bar in February 2023 has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

Jimmie Rogers, 33, entered a plea of guilty to Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, avoiding the more serious charge of Attempted Murder. Additional charges, including aggravated battery and felon in possession of a firearm, were dismissed as part of a plea deal.

He is set to be sentenced on October 7th, 2025.

Deputies responded to Onyx Bar & Grill, 1001 W. Lane Rd., around 1 a.m. on February 26, 2023, for reports of a shooting with multiple victims, according to the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities said Rogers came into the bar and had an altercation with the victim, and was removed from the premises by security. He later returned with a handgun, went over to the victim, and fired several shots.

Four people were shot and taken to the hospital. A fifth person was injured during the dispute, police said.

According to the criminal complaint, an 18-year-old man was the intended victim. He survived after being shot twice.

Another man, Derek Graham, then 21, was arrested in March 2023 in connection with the shooting. He was found guilty of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Reckless Discharge of a Firearm in July 2023 and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

At the time of his arrest, Graham was already wanted on a warrant for armed robbery by the Illinois Department of Corrections.