A Round Lake Beach woman has been sentenced to eight years in prison for committing an attempted robbery that led to a fatal shootout in the parking lot of Walmart in Waukegan.

Desteny Rodriguez, 21, of Round Lake Beach, was charged in February 2022 with four counts of armed robbery with a firearm, aggravated battery by discharging a firearm and three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

The Waukegan Police Department was called around 1:30 p.m. on February 19, 2022, to the Walmart Supercenter, 3900 Fountain Square Place.

Then-Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Joe Florip said the occupants of a white Dodge Durango and a black Nissan Altima agreed to meet at the Walmart.

The people involved intended to exchange or trade guns, Florip said.

Rodriguez and Emanuel Perez, 22, of Waukegan, were in the Dodge. The Nissan was occupied by two males in their 20s.

The group of four were in the parking lot during the meet-up when Rodriguez attempted to rob the two males in the Nissan, Florip said.

During the incident, shots were fired and both vehicles fled the area.

The Dodge, driven by Rodriguez, fled and crashed into other vehicles near Washington and Westwaukee Road in Waukegan.

Perez had been struck multiple times by the gunfire.

He was transported by the Waukegan Fire Department to an area hospital in serious condition and later died.

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