By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire
Antoine Thorne | Chicago Police
A man faces a murder charged and his brother is on the run for the fatal shooting of Alston Ronnie McNeal in October in Austin, an incident prosecutors say started after McNeal’s girlfriend was inappropriately touched at a party.
Antoine Thorne, 25, was charged with first-degree murder Wednesday, according to Chicago Police.
McNeal and Thorne were at a birthday party at an apartment in the 1100 block of North Lawler in the early morning hours of Oct. 10 when Thorne grabbed the butt of McNeal’s girlfriend, Cook County prosecutors said in court. McNeal and Thorne argued briefly, then McNeal walked away.
Thorne’s brother walked up and asked what happened, prosecutors said.
Thorne then walked up to McNeal with a gun, prosecutors said. They started wrestling over the gun, which went off without striking anyone.
Alston Ronnie McNeal | Chicago Police
While they were wrestling, Thorne’s brother walked up, pulled out another gun and fired a single shot, striking McNeal in the head, prosecutors said.
McNeal, who lived on the same block as the party, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:10 a.m., authorities said. An autopsy found he died of a gunshot wound to the head, and his death was ruled a homicide.
Thorne and his brother ran away, prosecutors said. They were identified by multiple people who were at the party and saw the shooting.
Thorne was ordered held on a $750,000 bond in court Wednesday, authorities said. His brother remains on the loose.