Attempted Murder Lawyer in Chicago

If you have been charged with attempted murder in Chicago, you are dealing with one of the most serious criminal accusations under Illinois law. A conviction can mean decades in prison, a permanent felony record, and long-term damage to your reputation, relationships, and ability to work or find housing.

You do not have to face this alone. At Kovacevic Law, your attorney Borjan Kovacevic takes the time to understand what really happened and how these charges are impacting your life. You are treated like a person, not a case file, and every strategy is built around protecting your rights and your future.

Kovacevic Law offers free consultations so you can talk through your situation and understand your options before making any decisions.

What Is Attempted Murder in Illinois?

Illinois law makes it a crime to attempt to kill another person. Under 720 ILCS 5/8-4, an attempt occurs when someone takes a substantial step toward committing a specific offense and does so with the specific intent to commit that offense.

For attempted murder, the State must prove that you:

• Intended to kill another person without lawful justification, and
• Took a substantial step toward carrying out that killing.

A substantial step is more than planning or thinking about it. It must be conduct that strongly shows the person was moving forward with an actual attempt. Examples that can be argued as substantial steps toward murder may include:

• Firing a gun at someone
• Stabbing someone in a vital area
• Administering a large amount of poison

However, intent is critical. Not every serious injury or violent act is automatically attempted murder. For example:

• Shooting someone in the leg
• Stabbing someone in the arm
• Giving a small amount of a harmful substance that is not likely to kill

These actions are still serious crimes, but they may not reflect a specific intent to kill. On the other hand, pointing a gun at someone’s head and pulling the trigger, thrusting a knife toward the chest, or giving a massive dose of poison may all be used by prosecutors to argue that you intended to take a life.

Your lawyer’s job is to challenge what the State claims about your intent and whether your actions truly meet the legal definition of a substantial step.

Degrees of Attempted Murder and Penalties

Attempted murder charges are divided into different degrees that reflect the seriousness and circumstances of the alleged conduct.

Attempted First Degree Murder

You may be charged with attempted first degree murder if prosecutors claim that you acted with the specific intent to kill and:

• Your actions were planned or premeditated, and or
• You knew or should have known that your conduct was likely to cause death.

Attempted first degree murder is a Class X felony in Illinois. Possible penalties include:

• 6 to 30 years in an Illinois state prison
• Fines up to 25,000 dollars

If certain aggravating factors are present, the sentencing range can increase significantly. Aggravating factors may include:

• The alleged victim is a peace officer, firefighter, or corrections officer performing official duties, which can raise the sentence to 20 to 80 years
• Using a firearm during the attempt, which can add 15 years
• Discharging a firearm during the attempt, which can add 20 years
• Discharging a firearm and causing great bodily harm, permanent disability, or disfigurement, which can result in 25 years to life

Attempted Second Degree Murder

Attempts to kill that are not premeditated or planned, such as acts committed in the heat of passion or sudden intense emotion, may be charged as attempted second degree murder.

Attempted second degree murder is a Class 1 felony, punishable by:

• 4 to 15 years in prison
• Fines up to 25,000 dollars

These penalties can change your life. Early intervention from a Chicago attempted murder attorney is critical.