Guilty: Jury returns verdict for Daniel Olaska, charged in murder of Shaun Wild at Naperville bar



BROWN DEER (WITI) -- People in Brown Deer have been rallying around the family of Shaun Wild ever since he was killed in an Illinois bar back in 2012. This week, a DuPage County jury found a man guilty of murder in Wild's death.



David Lucre is Wild's former teacher and football coach.

"He competed hard on the field and off the field," said David Lucre.

Wild, a high school athlete turned elementary school teacher was stabbed to death in a Naperville bar in 2012. He was 24.

After his death, Wild's high school retired his jersey, number 8, and held a well-attended memorial in the school gymnasium. Even his Naperville students came to say goodbye.

"Not only was the gym packed by the balcony area, it was standing room only," said Lucre.

On Wednesday, March 11th, an Illinois jury found Daniel Olaska guilty in Wild's murder.

"This was a senseless act of violence that was totally preventable," said the prosecuting attorney.

Prosecutors say Wild was killed trying to stop a fight at Frankie's Blue Room -- something his parents say was in character.

"He'd have been the peacemaker -- the guy who would have gone in and said 'guys let's calm down and let's think about it,'" said Bruce Wild.

The guilty verdict brings relief to the Wild's former mentor.

"The healing process can be completed as well as it can be," said Lucre.

And even though Olaska's attorney plans to appeal the verdict, friends and family members consider this a big step forward.

"You know that that's not gonna bring him back but like, it's closure. You're just happy that the justice system worked out," said Lucre.

Olaska will be sentenced in May.

FOX6 News spoke with Wild's mother, who wanted to thank all of her family's supporters over the last few years. She also wanted to thank the Brown Deer Police Department for their sensitivity the night they knocked on her door at 3:00 a.m. to notify them of Wild's death.

Related stories: