Man gets 31 years for shooting wife on busy Oak Brook thoroughfare

SHARE Man gets 31 years for shooting wife on busy Oak Brook thoroughfare

(WHEATON) A west suburban man was sentenced to 31 years in prison Tuesday for shooting his wife in the wrist during a car chase in Oak Brook in 2011.

Ronald D. Smith, 38, of the 700 block of Bluff Street in Carol Stream, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm on Nov. 13, according to a statement from the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office.

Judge Daniel Guerin handed down the 31-year sentence in court Tuesday, according to the statement.

About 3 p.m. on July 25, 2011, Smith’s wife was driving westbound on Butterfield Road near Route 83 in Oakbrook Terrace, prosecutors said.

Smith drove his vehicle into his wife’s vehicle and forced her off the road, prosecutors said. He then approached her vehicle and opened fire, striking his wife in the wrist.

His wife got out of her vehicle and was picked up by someone driving by, police said. Smith followed and opened fire again before driving away.

A few hours later, Smith turned himself in to police. He has remained in custody since his arrest and will receive credit for time served.

“This is not the wild west, we live in DuPage County where public safety is our top priority,” State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in the statement. “Mr. Smith’s outrageous behavior should remind us all that domestic violence is not always confined to the home. It can happen anywhere at any time.”

Smith will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

His wife has since recovered from her injuries.

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