Dominique Brown held on $2M bond in West Garfield Park shooting death of Michael Harrison

Michael Lansu — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 14:00:33 -0600

Dominique Brown / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

One man was killed and another was wounded when an argument that started in a West Garfield Park barber shop turned violent Friday night.

Michael Harrison, 35, was at a barber shop in the 0-100 block of South Kostner Avenue on Friday when an argument erupted because a man accused Harrison and his friend of stealing drugs, said Assistant State's Attorney Jamie Santini.

The man who accused Harrison of stealing the drugs eventually left the barber shop with three acquaintances, but all four returned a short time later armed with loaded guns, Santini said.

The accuser and one of his acquaintances, Dominique Brown, approached Harrison and his friend outside the barbershop and opened fire about 10:30 p.m., Santini said.

Harrison and his friend attempted to avoid the "hail of gunfire" by hiding behind a car, but both men were struck, Santini said.

Harrison, of the 2700 block of West Jackson Boulevard, was shot in the abdomen and died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County at 12:29 a.m. Saturday, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

His friend, 31, was shot in the left calf and right ankle, police said. He took himself to Rush University Medical Center for treatment, police said.

The gunmen ran away after the shooting, but nearby police officers saw Brown running north on Kostner Avenue and gave chase, Santini said. He was arrested about two blocks away from the shooting.

During the chase, Brown allegedly tossed a .40-caliber handgun, which police recovered and matched to shell casings at the scene of the shooting, Santini said.

A nearby business captured the shooting on video, and tests found gunshot residue on Brown's hands and clothes, Santini said.

Scene where Michael Harrison was shot / Video from NVP

Brown, 22, gave a videotaped statement admitting to the shooting and he was charged with first-degree murder, authorities said.

His lawyer said Brown graduated from Manley Career Academy High School and has been working fulltime at Target for about three years. He has two children.

On Monday, Judge James Brown ordered him held on $2 million bond and issued a next court date of Jan. 30.

The other gunman has not yet been charged for the murder.

Dominique Brown | Homicide Watch Chicago

Dominique Brown held on $2M bond in West Garfield Park shooting death of Michael Harrison