Man named by victim sentenced to 60 years

Marcus Harris told police that Eric Hill shot him, then he died.

On Monday, a St. Clair County judge told Hill that he will spend the next 60 years in prison for Harris’ murder.

Prosecutors asked for 55 years. Defense attorney Karen Craig asked for 45 years.

Circuit Judge Robert Haida sentenced Hill, 30, of East St. Louis, to 60 years. Hill must serve 100 percent of the sentence before he is eligible for release. Hill was found guilty by a jury of the shooting death of Harris, who was found shot in the 1600 block of 50th Street in Washington Park on July 13, 2013.

Assistant State’s Attorney Dan Lewis told the jury during his trial that “as he lay dying from multiple gunshots, Marcus started the journey to justice and now you can finish it.”

On Monday, Assistant State’s Attorney Erin Conner characterized Harris’ murder as a betrayal by Hill.

Nevada Harris, Marcus Harris’ mother, told the judge that she missed her son and his children asked their grandmother where their daddy is and they have to be told he is “in heaven.”

Haida said he was sympathetic to the victim’s and the defendant’s families. He called the murder an execution.

It was a miracle, Haida said, that Harris lived long enough to name his killer during a 911 call and later to police.

Illinois State Police and Washington Park police investigated the case.

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 3:26 PM with the headline "Man named by victim sentenced to 60 years."