In a serious ruling this week, a Chicago court has sentenced Cartez McGary, 26, to 33 years in prison for a series of violent crimes, including a fatal shooting over a drug dispute and an armed robbery. The sentencing by Judge Joanne Rosado concluded a series of court proceedings that started when McGary was out on bail for a separate felony.
The incident that led to the murder charge occurred in the early hours of February 28, 2021, in the Washington Heights area of Chicago. McGary fatally shot 32-year-old Lesean Long after a confrontation that reportedly began over a half-pound of marijuana. According to prosecutors, Long was at his girlfriend’s residence when he received a phone call and stepped outside, where he was confronted and shot by McGary.
Responding officers witnessed a gold Chrysler minivan, believed to be driven by McGary, speeding away from the scene. Although the vehicle escaped initial capture, the incident was promptly connected to McGary following police investigations.
Just weeks later, while still on bail, McGary was involved in another violent incident. On St. Patrick’s Day, he allegedly attempted to rob a man at a gas station in South Halsted. The altercation was captured by surveillance cameras, showing McGary donning a hoodie and a COVID mask before approaching the victim. The robbery escalated to violence when McGary shot at the victim, narrowly missing his head but grazing his eyebrow.
The victim managed to disarm McGary during a subsequent struggle, during which McGary’s face and hair were exposed to the station’s cameras. He fled the scene in his car, leaving behind his phone, which along with the vehicle’s license plate and the station’s footage, led to his identification and arrest.
Further linking McGary to these crimes, ballistic evidence from the gas station incident matched casings found at the murder scene. Additionally, officers who had attempted to stop the minivan after the initial shooting identified McGary as the driver. During the investigation, McGary claimed that the shooting of Long was in self-defense, alleging that Long had flashed a handgun. However, police did not find any weapon near Long’s body.
The compounded evidence and McGary’s prior criminal engagement while on bail for another case led to his current 33-year sentencing—25 years for the murder and an additional eight years for the armed robbery. This case has brought to light significant concerns about violent crime in the community and the judicial system’s handling of defendants out on bail.
