A Marine veteran with a license to hold a hid weapon says he was defending himself when he fatally shot a person who accosted him final week in Lincoln Park.
However Prepare dinner County prosecutors, who’ve charged 35-year-old John Conway with homicide within the Nov. 27 capturing, known as him a hazard to the neighborhood and argued that he ought to be held in custody pending trial throughout his preliminary court docket look on Friday.
Prosecutors stated the person who was shot, 34-year-old Alexander Nesteruk, was standing unarmed and along with his arms at his sides when Conway opened hearth. Additionally they cited a group of weapons, tactical gear and writings allegedly seized from Conway’s house after the capturing as trigger for concern.
Among the many gadgets recovered had been a number of handguns, a “sniper rifle,” ballistic armor and a “cellphone jammer,” prosecutors stated.
Authorities additionally allegedly discovered notebooks that contained “derogatory” writings and a “multi-paged plan to hurt an unrelated particular person at a selected occasion with notes detailing escape routes.”
Assistant State’s Lawyer Mike Pecara known as these gadgets — and the calm method wherein Conway shot Nesteruk and walked away from the scene — a “flashing warning image” that he would pose a hazard if launched.
Conway’s protection lawyer countered that his shopper’s army coaching gave him the flexibility to remain calm in traumatic conditions and stated that the weapons seized from Conway’s house had been for leisure capturing.
“I dont know what it says, what they’re accusing him of,” Assistant Public Defender Josh Thigpen stated of prosecutors’ obscure description of the paperwork they recovered.
Decide Caroline Glennon-Goodman stated she agreed with prosecutors and ordered Conway held in custody, however narrowly targeted her ruling on allegations that that Conway didn’t contact authorities after the capturing.
“The truth that you shot this particular person on the road and walked away… I feel heightens the chance you pose to the neighborhood,” she stated.
Nesteruk was seen within the space earlier within the day “behaving erratically,” together with shouting and kicking at automobiles, and was finally approached by police who “eliminated him from the realm,” prosecutors stated, however he later returned.
Surveillance cameras had been recording shortly earlier than 4 p.m. on the day of the capturing as Conway was approached by Nesteruk whereas strolling within the 2400 block of North Clark Avenue, prosecutors stated.
Nesteruk did an “air kick” with out making contact at Conway and each males stood dealing with one another, prosecutors stated.
The 2 had been a few sidewalk sq. aside when Conway allegedly reached into his pocket and pulled out a revolver, stepped ahead and fired a single shot.
The bullet handed by means of Nesteruk and the window of a close-by enterprise the place it was later discovered, prosecutors stated.
Nesteruk was struck within the chest and stumbled again, finally falling to the bottom. Conway watched briefly earlier than “calmly turning” and strolling away, prosecutors stated.
Conway made no try to achieve out to police, together with when officers drove by him as they responded to the capturing, prosecutors stated. Then, he allegedly went to a gymnasium the place he’s a member.
Nesteruk, of west suburban Wheaton, was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Heart, the place he died Monday.
“[Our] household is past devastated at this sudden, surprising, violent lack of life, and we demand justice,” Nesteruk’s household advised the Chicago Solar-Occasions in an announcement Friday. “Alex may be very cherished. [Our] complete household is grieving.”
Conway was charged with first-degree homicide late Thursday after surrendering at Space 3 detective headquarters this week, shortly after police launched a photograph of a suspect in a neighborhood alert, based on an arrest report.
A revolver of the identical make that was used within the capturing was present in Conway’s close by house when a search warrant was executed, together with six different firearms, prosecutors stated.
Among the many paperwork recovered that prosecutors stated had been regarding had been a number of maps, together with of the neighborhood and metropolis marked with X’s, and a map of Illinois with the places of a number of faculties circled, prosecutors stated with out offering extra info.
Conway’s lawyer stated he had by no means been arrested earlier than, was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps and had served abroad, together with in a rescue mission for a downed pilot.
Conway was employed as a contractor for the Federal Reserve Financial institution and labored remotely from his dwelling within the metropolis, Thigpen stated, including that his shopper needed to move a background examine for a safety clearance for his job.
Conway was anticipated again in court docket Dec. 26.
