ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- Three years after the murder of a Machesney Park teen, his killer gets shipped off to the department of corrections.

Chad Bennet was sentenced to 35 years today for the 2008 murder of 18-year-old Nicholas Black. He shot Black on Superior Avenue and shortly after turned himself in.

Bennet does get credit for time already served.

Story originally published on July 8, 2008:

In a 23 News exclusive, a Machesney Park family is speaking out for the first time about the murder of their teenage son. This on the same day that Winnebago County Sheriff's detectives name a suspect in the case.

"Full of heart and character."... That's how Nick Black's family remembers the 18-year old, as they struggle to comprehend his violent death. Black was shot to death Saturday night outside a house in Machesney Park.

"My brother was my best friend. They took the one person that's stood by my side, and so now I don't have him anymore and it's just difficult to cope with," says Black's younger sister Katie.

Now Winnebago County detectives are searching for another 18-year old in connection with the murder. Chad Michael Bennet, of Rockford, is wanted for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

Black's mother, Karen Morris, says the tragedy is that young people don't understand what they're doing when they cause such devastation.

"It doesn't have to come to violence, it doesn't have to come to death. It doesn't have to come to devastation of a family," says Morris. "What they don't understand, they have taken a piece of our heart and our family will never be the same."

Black's family says the teen was a friend to everyone, never involved in gangs, and a mediator. They believe in this case the shooter was after a friend of Black's and Nick tried to resolve the dispute.

"He didn't know Nick, he was looking for somebody else. Nick got out to stick up for somebody because that's the heart he has. That's the heart he has, and he paid for it," says Black's uncle Dave Barrone.

The family says finding a suspect would bring them some relief, but the real solution is to end senseless violence.

"Why are children able to have weapons? We need to be more involved in our children," says Morris. "I just want to plea, parents get involved in your child's life. Don't be standing here, not able to see your son get married, not able to see your son grow up."

There will be a visitation for Nick Black Wednesday from 4:00 to 8:00 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. That's at 8800 N Alpine Road in Machesney Park.

The funeral will be at the same place at 2:00 on Thursday.

Chad Bennet is not a suspect for the murder right now, just for unlawful use of a weapon.

I spoke with his mother by phone Tuesday night. She was distraught and said only, "My son is a perfect son."