Late on the evening of October 9, 2020, Brown and Young were driving separate vehicles that were involved in a minor collision with each other. Brown exited his vehicle brandishing a handgun and approached Young, who was unarmed and seated in his vehicle. Brown fired several times into the car, hitting Young once. Young died at a nearby hospital not long after the incident. Several eyewitnesses identified Brown and Brown confessed to Waukegan Police in a videotaped statement.  

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Dan Lenzini and Russell Caskey and victim witness coordinator Jenna Melloy for their hard work and for their frequent meetings with Mr. Young’s family. Rinehart stated, “This offender, in a fit of road rage, decided to kill Mr. Young. While the family cannot be made whole - they have suffered immeasurably - they are glad Brown will face the consequences of his actions. Our justice system will do everything it can to continue to assist this family and to ensure that this offender never harms anyone again.” 

The sentencing hearing will occur on April 28, 2022, before Judge Strickland and Brown will be sentenced to a term of between 45 years and life in an Illinois prison. Brown received no reduction in his sentencing range in exchange for his plea.  

Brown remained in custody during the pendency of the case since he was unable to post 10 percent of three million dollars. Under a new law going into effect on January 1, 2023, that ends cash bond, judges will be allowed to order the detention of individuals charged with murder (and other violent crimes) until their trial or plea without giving them an option to pay money to be released.