Prosecutors: Clarence Sams beat 88-year-old Arthur Hearn to death during Chatham robbery

Michael Lansu — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 14:21:54 -0500

Clarence Sams / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

A second man has been charged with murder for allegedly beating 88-year-old Arthur Hearn to death last month in the Chatham neighborhood.

Clarence Sams, 24, of the 9200 block of South Dobson Avenue, was also charged with one count of felony robbery and was wanted on an outstanding warrant, police said.

Assistant State's Attorney Robert Mack said Sams and Samuel Higgins were looking for someone to rob on Sept. 25 and Sams told a witness they were going to "hit a lick."

The pair walked past Hearn in the 8500 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue then Sams struck the elderly man while Higgins acted as a lookout, prosecutors said.

A witness saw Sams kneeling over Hearn and searching the elderly man's pockets as he laid on his back with blood coming from his head, Mack said.

A witness attempted to chase the men away and they eventually fled when a police car was flagged down, Mack said.

Hearn, of the 8400 block of South Langley Avenue, died Sept. 28 from the head injuries, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Sams was arrested Oct. 7 and admitted on video to punching and robbing Hearn, Mack said.

Samuel Higgins / Photo from Chicago Police

On Wednesday, Judge Laura Sullivan ordered Sams held on $2 million bond.

Sams was convicted of reckless discharge of a firearm in 2011 and sentenced to a year in prison and was convicted of unlawful use of a weapon in 2012 and sentenced to three years in prison, according to court records.

Higgins, 29, of the 900 block of East 84th Street, was arrested Oct. 2 and charged with murder. He was ordered held on $1 million bond during a Saturday hearing.

-- Contributing: Rummana Hussain

Clarence Sams | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: Clarence Sams beat 88-year-old Arthur Hearn to death during Chatham robbery