Thomas Bishop Jr. charged with murder in Independence Day shooting deaths of Robert Cotten, Corey Hudson

Michael Lansu — Wed, 13 May 2015 15:50:06 -0500

Thomas Bishop Jr. / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A 21-year-old South Side man was ordered held without bond Wednesday for allegedly shooting and killing two men who had fought with his father last summer.

Thomas Bishop Jr.’s father got into a “verbal and physical” altercation with Corey Hudson, Robert Cotten and others in the parking lot of a West Englewood strip mall because he felt he was being “disrespected,” authorities said.

During the Fourth of July fight, Bishop left the strip mall at 63rd Street and Seeley Avenue and returned in a car with a loaded rifle, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Przekota said.

By that time, the fight had ended and Bishop’s father had driven off with two others.

But Bishop still got out of the car, took out the weapon and opened fire, Przekota said.

Hudson, 34, suffered 10 gunshot wounds to his body and two graze wounds, Przekota said. Cotten, 35, was shot four times.

A witness identified Bishop as the shooter and surveillance footage from a nearby business shows him leaving the area and then returning before the shots rang out, Przekota said.

Assistant Public Defender Margaret Domin said Bishop lived with his girlfriend in the 8200 block of South Wolcott Avenue. The police report lists Bishop’s address in the 6200 block of South Claremont Avenue.

Bishop has twin boys and a daughter and had been working as a mover and at a temp agency, Domin said.

Thomas Bishop Jr. | Homicide Watch Chicago

Thomas Bishop Jr. charged with murder in Independence Day shooting deaths of Robert Cotten, Corey Hudson