Eric Hamilton / Photo from Chicago Police
BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor
A 47-year-old south suburban man was ordered held without bond Monday after prosecutors claimed he fatally shot his fiance’s brother during a Dec. 8 fight in the Washington Park community.
Eric Hamilton and his fiance had just returned to their home in the 6100 block of South Wabash Avenue when his fiance’s brother, 25-year-old Guvanni Johnson, asked to use her bus card and an argument ensued, said Assistant State’s Attorney Beth Novy.
Hamilton thought Johnson disrespected his fiance and became involved in the dispute, Novy said.
Hamilton eventually called 911 and when responding officers learned the dispute was not physical they “left after taking some information,” Novy said.
After police left, Hamilton and Johnson continued to argue and Hamilton’s fiance told the pair to go outside, where the argument escalated into a fight, Novy said.
Johnson eventually got into his vehicle and drove around the block, but Hamilton followed in a second vehicle, Novy said.
A maintenance worker saw both men park their vehicles on Wabash Avenue and Hamilton walk towards Johnson while he was still behind the wheel. Novy said. Hamilton then tried to break the passenger side window of Johnson’s vehicle, prosecutors said.
Johnson then got out of the vehicle and started to run away, but Hamilton pulled a handgun and shot him, Novy said.
When Johnson to fell to the street, Hamilton bend over him and shot him three more times, Novy said.
Scene where Guvonni Johnson was shot / Photo by Brian Jackson
Johnson, 25, who lived in the home with his sister, was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he died the next day, authorities said.
After the shooting, Hamilton ran to the back of his fiance’s home, knocked on the window, told her he was sorry then fled, Novy said.
Hamilton, of the 800 block of West Westwood Drive in Glenwood, was arrested Wednesday and later charged with first-degree murder, authorities said. He has three previous misdemeanor convictions, including a 1988 case where he was sentenced to one year of supervision for unlawful use of a weapon, according to court records.
Hamilton’s lawyer claimed that before the fight Johnson was hitting and kicking Hamilton, who wrestled for the gun inside the home and was acting in self-defense.
His lawyer noted Hamilton has eight children, six of whom are grown and two who he still supports, and is a supervisor for a company.
Judge James Brown ordered Hamilton held without bond and issued a next court date of Jan. 5.