Second Man Charged in South Side Shooting That Led to Grandmother’s Death

(WTTW News)(WTTW News)

A convicted murderer has been charged with firing a gun at a security guard at point-blank range, sparking an incident that later resulted in the fatal shooting of 55-year-old grandmother Bobbye Johnson earlier this month.

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Elbert Duncan, 47, was denied bail during a hearing Tuesday following his arrest on a single count of aggravated battery stemming from the nonfatal shooting of Victor Brown outside a South Side liquor store Feb. 1.

Brown himself faces a first-degree murder charge because, after being shot in the leg, he allegedly fired some 20 rounds down a busy street, inadvertently striking and killing Johnson, who had been walking four blocks away.

According to Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Loukas Kalliantasis, Duncan was known to Brown and other security guards at the Wood’s Food & Liquor and a nearby restaurant in the 200 block of East 35th Street, and was not allowed there due to previous incidents.

Feb. 1, Duncan showed up to the area anyway after a friend of his had gotten into a verbal altercation with security outside, Kalliantasis said. He allegedly entered the restaurant and threatened someone inside before he got into an argument with Brown outside.

As they were arguing, Duncan could be seen putting his hands into his coat pocket, where he had concealed a handgun, Kalliantasis said. He then allegedly fired a single shot, striking Brown in the right leg from about 2 feet away.

During Brown’s own bond hearing earlier this month, prosecutors explained that after he fell to the ground, he allegedly began firing his own handgun at Duncan, who was running from the scene. But Brown’s gun only contained blanks so he allegedly took a loaded gun from another guard and began firing live rounds at Duncan, who by this point was a block away.

Brown allegedly fired 20 rounds, even continuing to fire as Duncan crossed a busy street. Johnson was on her way to a bank and was about four blocks away on the opposite side of the street from Brown when this was happening. She was struck once in the chest by one of the bullets and pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

While he isn’t charged in Johnson’s death, Kalliantasis called Duncan a “danger to the community.”

During Tuesday’s hearing, Kalliantasis said Duncan has four previous felony convictions, including one for the aggravated battery of a 6-year-old in 2005 and another in 1989 for murder. In that case, Kalliantasis said Duncan shot a person in the head, and after they fell to the ground moaning, he walked closer and shot them a second time.

Duncan was sentenced to 27 years in prison following that conviction. He is due back in court on his current case Feb. 23.

Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson[email protected] | (773) 509-5431


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