Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Jury Instructions
Defendant was convicted, after jury trial, of aggravated discharge of a firearm. Plain language of statute requires knowing or intentional discharge of firearm in the direction of another person. The specific identity of a named victim is not an essential element of offense. Court's decision to remove specific victim's name from jury instruction, replacing it with "another person", was proper, and this change, after question from jury and during their deliberations, did not introduce a new theory of liability and did not deprive Defendant of right to closing argument. No violation of one-act, one-crime rule when conviction for offense was as to one victim, whereas second-degree murder conviction was for death of a different person. (CUNNINGHAM and KARNEZIS, concurring.)