A Granite City man who claimed he fired in self-defense outside a Nameoki Road bar last fall has been sentenced to six years in prison for killing his 26-year-old victim. Nicklos D. Henderson, 22, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on July 29 and was sentenced on Oct. 14, closing out a case that began with gunfire outside Patrick’s Bar just before 2 a.m. on Oct. 25, 2025.
Henderson shot and killed Jesus Escobedo, also of Granite City, outside the bar in the 2900 block of Nameoki Road, according to the Alton Telegraph. Police had reported that a disturbance broke out at the bar before Escobedo was struck by gunfire. Responding officers arrived at approximately 1:49 a.m., found Escobedo suffering from a gunshot wound, and he was taken for emergency treatment.
Escobedo was pronounced dead at 2:37 a.m. at Gateway Regional Medical Center, a 343-bed acute care hospital on Madison Avenue, and Madison County Coroner Nicholas P. Novacich confirmed his death came from gunshot injuries, per the same outlet’s report. The hospital operates a 24-hour emergency department and behavioral health unit, according to Gateway Regional Medical Center.
From First-Degree Murder to a Lesser Plea
Henderson was initially charged with first-degree murder, a Class M felony, along with aggravated unlawful possession of weapons, a Class 4 felony, after claiming self-defense. Under a plea agreement, prosecutors reduced the murder count to second-degree murder, a Class 1 felony, and dropped the weapons charge entirely, the Telegraph reported…