Prosecutors: Stolen gun was motive in shooting that killed teen

John Carpenter — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 09:04:39 -0500

A South Side man who was hiding in an attic after fatally shooting a teenage boy Monday night fell through the ceiling and was arrested, according to police.
Coleman, 25, of Bellwood, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm, police said. He is expected in bond court Friday.
The shooting happened after a relative of Maurice Knowles stole a gun from Michael O. Johnson, authorities said. That relative was known to visit a home in the 10500 block of South LaSalle Street, where Knowles and a 24-year-old man had been staying with another relative.
Johnson, Ray Coleman and one other man approached the home and opened fire on a group of people on the porch about 5:30 p.m. Monday, authorities said.
Knowles was struck in the back and died about two hours later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.
The 24-year-old, who suffered only a graze wound and declined medical attention, was not cooperative with detectives, police said.
Witnesses “heard a warning” about someone near the gangway and saw a male in a dark hooded sweatshirt point a gun at the porch, according to court documents. Witnesses identified the gunman as “Mike Mike” Johnson, provided his address and identified him in a photo.
The wounded man provided police with a nickname for another of the suspects, according to court documents. Another witness identified the third person when the men were seen fleeing through an alley.
When police arrived at Johnson’s home, he tried to kick out a window, but fell through the ceiling from the attic where he was hiding, according to court documents. Police then searched the home and found a hooded sweatshirt that matched the description given by witnesses, but no gun.
Judge Israel A. Desierto ordered Johnson held on $1.5 million bond Thursday.

Ray Coleman | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: Stolen gun was motive in shooting that killed teen