Crime & Safety
Murder Followed Fight At Howard Street Restaurant: Prosecutors
The man facing murder charges in a May 2020 drive-by shooting first brandished a crowbar during a brawl in the street, authorities said.
CHICAGO — An argument outside a restaurant at Howard and Paulina streets led to a fatal shooting in Rogers Park last year, prosecutors said this week.
Desmen Williams, 28, of Chicago, was arrested Tuesday and ordered held without bond Thursday on first-degree murder charges stemming from the May 6, 2020, drive-by shooting of Jemel Murphy.
Murphy, 22, was standing in the 1600 block of West Jonquil Terrace around 4 p.m. that day when he was struck by a bullet Williams fired from a passing Jeep, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.
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About 45 minutes earlier, prosecutors said Williams was parked outside the restaurant when Murphy and a friend arrived. All three were allegedly captured on surveillance video.
Williams and Murphy's friend became involved in an argument, according to prosecutors, and after Murphy's friend punched Williams, Williams reached into his jeep and pulled out a crowbar as they continued to argue in the street.
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Prosecutors said an unidentified person broke up the argument, and Williams got into his Jeep and drove away. Before leaving, Williams said he "would be back," according to prosecutors.
Murphy and his friends waited for their food order before driving up Paulina Street to Jonquil Terrace, prosecutors said.
According to the state's attorney's office, witnesses identified Williams as the man involved in the fight at the restaurant, and surveillance video appears to show him drive his Jeep to Jonquil Terrace and open fire.
Prosecutors said the Jeep, which Williams co-owns with his mother, contained a crowbar and gunshot residue during a search two days after Murphy's killing.
When Williams was arrested this week, prosecutors said he was found with a loaded 9 mm handgun, 45 grams of cannabis, above the legal limit, and 10 bars police suspect to contain psilocybin, the psychedelic ingredient found in fungus.
Prosecutors said Williams has a valid Firearm Owners ID card but no concealed carry license. The gun is awaiting further analysis.
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