A shooting from the Illinois suburb of Roselle in 2022 has finally been resolved, with the shooter handed a 45-year sentence. Jaime Quijano, 26, escalated a simple misunderstanding in a restaurant and fired 18 shots at staff and customers, leaving one woman fighting for her life after he shot her in the head. There has been an uptick in senseless gun violence in the country this month after a relatively peaceful start to the year. One incident in North Carolina, in particular, saw bystanders watching and even cheering, prompting authorities to hint that going forward there will be more stringent punishments for anyone who participates — even tangentially — in a mass shooting. The idea is simple: if people understand that these situations come with life-altering consequences, even for those who survive, they might hesitate before pulling a gun over a minor inconvenience. That’s not what Quijano believed in 2022. On July 16 of that year, he was asked to leave a Bulldog Ale House outlet at 394 Irving Park Road in Roselle. It’s not entirely clear why employees wanted him to leave, but Quijano responded by cursing at staff. At that point, the assumption was he would vent, walk out, and maybe settle for a bad Yelp review — the usual modern-day form of revenge. A situation like this should not, under any circumstances, escalate into violence — let alone life-threatening violence. Instead, as Quijano approached the exit, he unzipped a black satchel strapped across his chest and revealed a firearm. He then turned back toward the employees, pointed the gun, and began firing. Reports say he discharged multiple rounds before fleeing the scene. According to a local NBC affiliate, DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin said, “Quijano fired eighteen shots into a crowded bar, sending patrons scrambling for safety and leaving one innocent young woman in her 20s fighting for her life. This unconscionable act of violence not only nearly cost a woman her life, but also terrorized an entire community.” The victim is still in recovery. Berlin noted that for her, the road ahead will likely be a lifetime of physical and psychological healing — a reminder that the consequences of these acts rarely end when the shooting stops. In cases like this, what becomes clear very quickly is how little consideration perpetrators often have for the long-term impact of their actions. It’s not just about loss of life, but the enduring trauma inflicted on those who survive. Quijano is required to serve at least 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole, meaning he will likely remain behind bars well into the mid-2060s. Berlin also commended law enforcement, saying, “I commend the Roselle Police Department, whose quick response and outstanding police work led to Mr. Quijano’s apprehension just hours after the shooting.” Human life is fragile — not something to be toyed with. But the ease and immediacy of gun use can sometimes give bad actors the illusion that it is. In moments like these, it falls to strong institutions and a functioning criminal justice system to reassert that reality.