YEP: I Shot And Killed A Man In The Basement - Chicago, IL

[CT-Mike]

Man: 'Yep, I shot and killed a man in the basement' :: The SouthtownStar :: News

A 59-year-old man admitted to police he fatally shot man who held a knife to his throat and tried to rob him Wednesday morning in Chicago's Englewood community.

Maurice Willis, 36, was found in a trashcan at 1244 W. 61st St., the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

Police said they responded to the 1200 block of West 61st about 9:30 a.m., where the victim was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds.

Officers on patrol were flagged down by a person who said a man sitting on the porch at 1244 W. 61st St. just killed a man at that address.

An officer approached the man on the porch and the man allegedly said, “Yep, I shot and killed a man in the basement,” according to police.

The man and the officer entered the basement apartment where the 59-year-old showed the officer the weapon he allegedly used, a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver, and the dead man, who had multiple gunshot wounds to his face and chest and was sticking halfway out of a city garbage can.

The man also told police the incident began when he was entering his basement apartment and Willis ran up behind him and held a knife to his throat.

The arrestee said words to the effect of, “OK, don’t hurt me, I got money here in the mattress,” according to police, who said when he went to the mattress he produced the revolver and shot Willis.

Police said he apparently panicked and tried to hide the body in the bin, which he planned on rolling back out into the alley. Police said the incident may be reclassified to self-defense.

Wentworth Area detectives are investigating.

Bad move to try and hide the body, but hopefully the most serious charge he faces involves evidence tampering.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Bark'n]

If he doesn't get gigged in Chicago, it'll be a small miracle.

Another case of possibly turning an otherwise justifiable self defense shooting into a crime by actions taken after the fact!

It sure is better to think things through and know the laws beforehand than to try and fly by the seat of your pants after the fact!

[aimhigh]

well he did it!!!

[Bunny]

I love that he put the trash where it belonged though.

[CT-Mike]

I love that he put the trash where it belonged though.

+100 Bunny.

[jsnole]

Good one Bunny! Lets hope his story is true and it sticks.

[Defensive Arms]

Since this incident occurred in a rabidly anti-gun city and state, we can consider it a significant victory if this guy doesn't get charged.

As others have mentioned however, it's definitely not good that he failed to contact the police.

[automatic slim]

Notice how the robber is refered to as the "victim". You just gotta love the media.

[mojust]

The trash can is a nice touch.

[Angry Bill]

+1 Bunny "trash", +1 slim "victim"

[PastorPack]

Note to self, after a defensive shooting, don't stuff the BG in the can.

SD for sure, and what a great line!

"OK, don’t hurt me, I got money here in the mattress"

[ccw9mm]

South side of Chicago, sitting on his front doorstep awaiting police when they arrived, claimed to LEO he was attacked by a knife-wielding criminal, turned the tables and killed the attacker, then moved the body to a dumpster.

Hm. I don't suppose he knows a competent attorney, but I think he's going to need to speak with someone truly on his side. Though, it appears as if the investigators are giving some credence to his story at this point.

[J Bowen]

I think maybe the guy is lying about what all really
happened. I know after a high stress situation its
easy not to think clearly but very very stupid to put
a home invader's dead body in a trash can. Then plan
on dumping the body in the alley. Sounds suspect but
who knows maybe that is what really happened and the
homeowner just didnt want the hassle of a trial and the huge
price tag for court costs and a lawyer because it is
guilty until proven innocent.

[Defensive Arms]

I think maybe the guy is lying about what all really happened. I know after a high stress situation its easy not to think clearly but very very stupid to put a home invader's dead body in a trash can. Then plan on dumping the body in the alley. Sounds suspect but who knows maybe that is what really happened and the homeowner just didnt want the hassle of a trial and the huge price tag for court costs and a lawyer because it is guilty until proven innocent.

It's possible he's lying, but he deserves the benefit of the doubt under law.

I have no doubt the police will investigate thoroughly, and it should be relatively easy for crime scene investigators to determine if the shooting occurred in his basement like he claims.

In his defense, you have to remember that this occurred in Chicago, one of the most rabidly anti-gun cities in the nation. Also, I believe handguns are illegal there.

God only knows how many innocent citizens and shopkeepers have been prosecuted for merely attempting to defend themselves with "illegal" handguns.

Can you really blame the guy for being too scared to call the police, knowing very well that he might be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, for the "crime" of defending himself from a violent criminal?

There's no doubt he SHOULD have called the police immediately, but I can understand his hesitation under the circumstances, because of Chicago's absurd anti-gun laws.

[ccw9mm]

... didnt want the hassle of a trial and the huge price tag for court costs and a lawyer because it is guilty until proven innocent.

Seeing as how it's the south side and (effectively) guilty until proved innocent, that is probably the best thing he's got going for him.

If there is a witness or two, outside, who indicates certain things, or if the physical evidence doesn't exonerate him by itself, he's got some problems to overcome. I mean, guilty until proved innocent and all: he's still standing, he admitted to killing a guy, and the guy's rotting in the dumpster next door because he tried to hide the evidence. In Chicago without lots of friends and strong physical evidence to the contrary, that might well equal guilty, essentially.