Devonte Watson | Homicide Watch Chicago

No bond for second suspect charged with murder of Dwayne Thomas during argument in Greater Grand Crossing

Jeff Mayes — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 16:51:09 -0500

By JEFF MAYES
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Willie Wheeler | Chicago Police

On Aug. 19, in broad daylight, Willie Wheeler shot Dwayne L. Thomas twice in the face as the two argued in front of several witnesses outside a building in the South Side Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood, according to prosecutors.

But while an accomplice was taken into custody the next day, Wheeler remained on the lam until Wednesday night, when he led police on a chase through the South Side before being captured.

On Friday, a Judge Ada Bourgeois ordered the 21-year-old Wheeler held without bond.

Prosecutors say that about 1:20 p.m. on Aug. 19, Wheeler and Devonte Watson saw the victim on a porch in the 4700 block of South Harvard with two friends, and Wheeler and Thomas got into a verbal argument as other witnesses watched from inside.

Wheeler then pulled a gun and, from point-blank range, shot Thomas twice, once in the chin and once in the cheek, prosecutors said. Thomas’ friends turned to run, and Watson tried to fire a gun at them, but it jammed.

Devonte Watson | Chicago Police

Thomas, 20, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn less than an hour later, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Watson, of the 4700 block of South Normal, was arrested the day after the shooting. He was charged with murder and is being held on a $1 million bond, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office.

About 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, officers spotted Wheeler in a vehicle at a gas station near 76th and State, according to prosecutors.

As officers approached, he sped away and a man in the back of the vehicle pointed a weapon at the officers, prosecutors said. One of the officers fired toward the vehicle, but no one was hit.

Wheeler’s vehicle ran through several stops before it crashed into a pole and another vehicle in the 9500 block of South Halsted, where both men got out of the car and ran, prosecutors said. Wheeler was found by a canine unit hiding in a garage about an hour later, prosecutors said. Officers recovered a weapon from the vehicle, according to police.

Wheeler, of the 7800 block of South Avalon, is charged with murder and resisting an officer. He has previous convictions for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in 2011, possession of a stolen vehicle in 2011, and reckless conduct in 2015.

After police chase, second man is charged with murder of Dwayne Thomas in Greater Grand Crossing

Jeff Mayes — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 11:49:07 -0500

The second man wanted for the murder of Dwayne L. Thomas last month in Greater Grand Crossing led police on a chase through the South Side before being captured Wednesday night.

Willie Wheeler | Chicago Police

About 9:30 p.m., officers spotted 21-year-old Willie Wheeler in the 7600 block of South State Street, according to Chicago Police. As officers approached, he pointed a weapon at them and one of the officers fired, but didn’t hit him, police said.

Wheeler got into a vehicle and drove away before his vehicle crashed in the 9500 block of South Halsted, where he was arrested, police said. Officers recovered a weapon from the vehicle, police said.

Wheeler was wanted for the Aug. 19 murder of the 20-year-old Thomas near the victim’s home in the 7400 block of South Harvard, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Devonte Watson | Chicago Police

Devonte Watson also faces first-degree murder charges for the attack that happened about 1:20 p.m. at Thomas stood on the front porch of a home. Police said someone walked up and shot him in the neck, and he died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn less than an hour later.

Devonte Watson, of the 4700 block of South Normal, was arrested the day after the shooting and is being held on a $1 million bond, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office.

Wheeler, of the 7800 block of South Avalon, is charged with first-degree murder and resisting an officer. He was scheduled to appear in bond court Friday.

—Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Murder charge filed for fatal shooting of Dwayne Thomas in Greater Grand Crossing

Jeff Mayes — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 00:38:56 -0500

A 22-year-old man has been charged with the fatal shooting of Dwayne L. Thomas last week in Greater Grand Crossing on the South Side.

Devonte Watson | Chicago Police

Devonte Watson faces first-degree murder charges for the attack that happened about 1:20 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19 in the 7400 block of South Harvard, according to Chicago Police.

Thomas, 20, was on the front porch of a home when someone walked up and shot him in the neck, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Thomas, who lived on the same block, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died at 2:09 p.m., authorities said.

Watson, of the 7400 block of South Normal, was arrested shortly after the shooting, police said.

A judge ordered him held on a $1 million bond during a hearing Saturday, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office.

— Chicago Sun-Times Wire