Alston Ronnie McNeal | Homicide Watch Chicago

Second brother charged with fatal shooting of Alston McNeal, killed after sticking up for his girlfriend at Austin party

Jeff Mayes — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:57:30 -0600

Charles Thorne | Chicago Police

By JORDAN OWEN and MITCHELL ARMENTROUT
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

A second brother now faces a murder charge for the fatal shooting of Alston Ronnie McNeal in October in Austin, an incident prosecutors say started after McNeal's girlfriend was inappropriately touched at a party.

Charles Thorne, 27, pulled the trigger in the early morning hours of Oct. 10, 2015, attack in the 1100 block of North Lawler, according to Chicago Police and Cook County prosecutors. His brother, 34-year-old Antoine Thorne, was charged with murder in December.

They brothers were at a birthday party in an apartment when Antoine Thorne inappropriately grabbed the butt of 33-year-old Alston McNeal's girlfriend, prosecutors said at Antoine Thorne's bond hearing in December.

The two argued briefly before McNeal walked away. He was standing at the front door on his way out when Antoine Thorne charged at him with a gun, prosecutors said. They wrestled for the weapon, which went off without striking anyone.

Antoine Thorne | Chicago Police

During the struggle, Charles Thorne walked up and fired a single shot into McNeal's head at about 3:20 a.m., prosecutors said.

McNeal, who lived on the same block as the party, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:10 a.m., authorities said.

Thorne and his brother ran away, prosecutors said. They were identified by multiple people who were at the party and saw the shooting.

Charles Thorne was arrested Thursday and ordered held on a $1.5 million bond, according to the Cook County sheriff's office. He is due back in court March 9.

Antoine Thorne is being held on an $800,000 bond and has a status hearing March 4.

Alston McNeal | Facebook

Prosecutors: Alston McNeal was fatally shot after his girlfriend was inappropriately touched at party

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 15:14:45 -0600

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Antoine Thorne | Chicago Police

A man faces a murder charged and his brother is on the run for the fatal shooting of Alston Ronnie McNeal in October in Austin, an incident prosecutors say started after McNeal's girlfriend was inappropriately touched at a party.

Antoine Thorne, 25, was charged with first-degree murder Wednesday, according to Chicago Police.

McNeal and Thorne were at a birthday party at an apartment in the 1100 block of North Lawler in the early morning hours of Oct. 10 when Thorne grabbed the butt of McNeal’s girlfriend, Cook County prosecutors said in court. McNeal and Thorne argued briefly, then McNeal walked away.

Thorne’s brother walked up and asked what happened, prosecutors said.

Thorne then walked up to McNeal with a gun, prosecutors said. They started wrestling over the gun, which went off without striking anyone.

Alston Ronnie McNeal | Chicago Police

While they were wrestling, Thorne’s brother walked up, pulled out another gun and fired a single shot, striking McNeal in the head, prosecutors said.

McNeal, who lived on the same block as the party, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:10 a.m., authorities said. An autopsy found he died of a gunshot wound to the head, and his death was ruled a homicide.

Thorne and his brother ran away, prosecutors said. They were identified by multiple people who were at the party and saw the shooting.

Thorne was ordered held on a $750,000 bond in court Wednesday, authorities said. His brother remains on the loose.

Alston Ronnie McNeal fatally shot at party on block where he lived in Austin

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 11:20:49 -0500

A party in the West Side Austin neighborhood turned deadly early Saturday when shots were fired, leaving Alston Ronnie McNeal dead.

McNeal, 33, was at a party on his block in the 1100 block of North Lawler about 3:20 a.m. when another male at the party shot him in the head, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

McNeal was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:10 a.m., according to the medical examiner’s office

An autopsy found he died of a gunshot wound to the head, and his death was ruled a homicide.

--Chicago Sun-Times Wire

WEEK IN REVIEW: At least 8 people die from shootings in Chicago

Jeff Mayes — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 16:00:06 -0500

By JEFF MAYES
Chicago Sun-Times Wire
At least 8 people died from gunshot wounds in Chicago last week, including three teenage boys--two of them 15 and one 17.

Fifteen-year-old Kiyon Evans was shot to death Friday afternoon in Austin. Police discovered the boy’s body in a rear yard in the 4900 block of West Congress at about 12:45 p.m., according to Chicago Police.

Evans suffered gunshot wounds to the legs and torso, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Evans, who lived in the 700 block of East 50th Place, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Another 15-year-old, Davion Funches, was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon in Chicago Lawn.

Officers found the boy unresponsive on a sidewalk with gunshot wounds to the chest at 4:38 p.m. in the 6100 block of South Rockwell.

He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:18 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office.

A 17-year-old boy was fatally shot while riding in a vehicle in East Garfield Park early Saturday, police said.

About 4:10 a.m., Eric Garth was a passenger in a vehicle in the 3900 block of West Ferdinand when someone walked up and shot him in the neck and face, police said. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The week's final homicide occurred early Sunday in Washington Park, where Kevin Hughes was killed and two other people injured.

The three men, 24, 35 and 40, were sitting in a parked vehicle in the 5400 block of South Prairie about 4:20 a.m. Oct. 11 when another vehicle pulled alongside and someone inside opened fire, according to police.

Hughes, 35, was shot in the head and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:30 a.m., according to the medical examiner’s office.

The 40-year-old was shot in the back, and the 24-year-old man suffered a graze wound to the head, police said.

A man was fatally shot at a party in Austin early Saturday. Alston Ronnie McNeal, 33, was at a party on his block in the 1100 block of North Lawler about 3:20 a.m. when another male at the party shot him in the head, according to police and the medical examiner's office.

McNeal was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:10 a.m.

Lance Braxton was killed and another man wounded during an armed robbery during a dice game in Austin on Thursday night.

Braxton, 36, and another 36-year-old man were outside playing dice in the 5800 block of West Chicago about 8:30 p.m. when at least two other people walked up and started shooting, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Both men were shot and someone drove them to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, police said.

Braxton, of the 800 block of North Mayfield, was shot in the chest and was pronounced dead less than 30 minutes later, authorities said.

The other man was shot in the chest and arm, and his condition was stabilized, police said.

DeAngelo Birge was killed and another man wounded in a West Garfield Park shooting Tuesday afternoon.

About 3:15 p.m., the two 24-year-olds were sitting in a vehicle in the 4400 block of West Maypole when someone walked up, fired into the car and ran away, according to police.

Birge was shot in the head and taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:46 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office. He lived in the 4200 block of West Jackson.

The other man was also taken to Stroger with a gunshot wound to the hand. His condition stabilized, police said.

A man critically wounded last Sunday in a Gage Park shooting died two days later.
Jonathan Pulido, 21, was a passenger in a vehicle at 12:37 a.m. Oct. 4 in the 5300 block of South Sacramento when someone outside the vehicle began firing shots, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

He was shot in the back of the head, and was taken in critical condition to Holy Cross Hospital, police said. He was later transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital.

Pulido, of the 5100 block of South Mozart Avenue, was pronounced dead at 6:19 p.m. Oct. 6 at Mount Sinai, according to the medical examiner’s office.