An Aurora man will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for shooting someone to death inside a social club on the city’s near east side two years ago.

A Kane County jury on Aug. 27, 2018, convicted 50-year-old Alfredo Soto of first-degree murder in the Aug. 1, 2016, shooting death of 31-year-old Martiniano Alvarez of North Aurora.

Alfredo Soto

In addition, the jury found that Soto personally fired the gun that killed Alvarez.

Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Lori Anderson, David Belshan and Vincent Coyle presented evidence during the five-day trial that the evening of Aug. 1, 2016, Soto and two other patrons were drinking at the bar at an establishment in the 1300 block of Dearborn Avenue. At some point Alvarez joined them and the group carried on what witnesses described as a normal conversation.

At 6:40 p.m. Soto got up and walked toward the door, then asked Alvarez to come with him. Soto then pulled out a Beretta semi-automatic handgun, pointed it at Alvarez and fired four shots, with one of them striking Alvarez in the left temple. No one else was injured.

Soto immediately fled the scene driving a white pickup truck. Alvarez died later that day at a local hospital as a result of the gunshot wound.

The shooting was recorded on surveillance video.

Circuit Judge Clint Hull set Alvarez’s next court appearance for 9 a.m. Sept. 21, 2018, for filing of motions and to set a sentencing date. Alvarez faces a sentence of between 45 years and life imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The sentence includes a mandatory enhancement of between 25 years and life in prison because Soto personally fired the gun.

Soto remains in the Kane County jail, where he has been held since his arrest in lieu of $5 million bail. Judge Hull revoked bond upon conviction.

“I hope this just verdict brings a sense of peace to Martiniano Alvarez’s family members and friends. This jury saw through Mr. Soto’s claim of self-defense and rendered the appropriate verdict for what was a cold-blooded and violent act. As a result Mr. Soto will go to prison for what in essence is a life sentence. Thanks to Assistant State’s Attorneys Anderson, Belshan and Coyle for their excellent work on this case and trial, and thanks to the Aurora Police Department for their strong investigation,” said Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney William Engerman, chief of the office’s Felony Trials Bureau.