Second man charged with 2014 fatal shooting of Donald Ray following argument in Austin

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 15:34:31 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times

Lenneth Suggs | Chicago Police

A second man has been charged with fatally shooting Donald Ray, the brother of a woman he was arguing with last year in the West Side Austin neighborhood.

Lenneth Suggs, 22, was charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder for the shooting on July 6, 2014, according to Chicago Police and court records.

Suggs and a friend were in the 5200 block of West Lake Street when his friend got into an argument with a woman, Assistant State’s Attorney Kim Przekota said in bond court Wednesday. They left, but returned a few minutes later with a handgun.

Suggs’ friend pointed the gun at the woman and police were called, Przekota said. But Suggs and his friend left before officers arrived.

Michael Johnson | Chicago Police

The woman’s brother, 21-year-old Donald Ray, showed up a few minutes later with another friend, Przekota said. Suggs, 27-year-old Michael Johnson and a third man also returned to the scene and resumed arguing with the woman.

She tried to leave in a car with her brother and his friend, but Johnson handed Suggs a gun, he walked up to the car and fired four to six times before running away, Przekota said.

Ray was shot in the head, authorities said. He was driven to West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, where he was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m., authorities said.

Ray’s friend, 19, suffered a gunshot wound to the upper thigh and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was treated and released.

Suggs was identified by four witnesses as the shooter, and the shooting was captured on surveillance video, Przekota said. Suggs allegedly admitted to the shooting but claimed it was self-defense.

Suggs, of the 1600 block of North Mayfield, was ordered held without bond Wednesday.

Johnson was charged last year and is next scheduled to appear in court Oct. 26. He is being held without bond in the Cook County Jail.

Prosecutors: Michael Johnson handed a revolver to man who fatally shot Donald Ray

Michael Lansu — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 16:00:35 -0500

Michael Johnson / Photo from Cook County Sheriff's office

BY JORDAN OWEN
Sun-Times Media

Michael Johnson allegedly handed another man a revolver before the fatal shooting of Donald Ray Sunday evening on the West Side.

Johnson, 27, was charged with murder, aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm and aggravated assault/discharge of a firearm, authorities said. He was ordered held on a $1 million bond Thursday.

Prosecutors said Johnson's acquaintance was involved in an argument with Ray in the 5200 block of West Lake Street.

Ray and a friend walked back to Ray's car and attempted to leave, but Johnson went into a hallway and emerged moments later with a revolver, prosecutors said. Johnson handed the gun to his acquaintance, who opened fire on Ray’s car, prosecutors said.

Ray, 21, was shot in the head and died less than an hour later at West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, authorities said.

The other man, 19, was shot in the right thigh and was treated at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, police said.

The argument and shooting were caught on video surveillance prosecutors said.

Johnson admitted to handing the gun to the shooter, who has not yet been charged, prosecutors said.

Michael Johnson | Homicide Watch Chicago

Second man charged with 2014 fatal shooting of Donald Ray following argument in Austin

Prosecutors: Michael Johnson handed a revolver to man who fatally shot Donald Ray