Man Convicted In Halloween Murder Of Expectant Mom

CHICAGO (AP/WBBM) - A jury in Chicago deliberated for about 90 minutes before convicting a 21-year-old man of murder in the death of a pregnant woman who was shot in front of her children on Halloween.

The Cook County jurors convicted Orlando Avila on Monday in the 2007 death of Leticia Barrera. She was more than two months pregnant and had three other children when she was killed on her 32nd birthday on the 4800 block of South Seeley Avenue.

Prosecutors say Barrera had just returned to her home after trick-or-treating with her children when she was killed.

Authorities say Barrera was shot when Avila and another gunman opened fire on some rival gang members who were down the street. The second gunman was never arrested.

Avila faces 40 to 80 years in prison when he's sentenced on Nov. 17.

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