COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — An Austin man was gunned down just four days after his prison release when he taunted a longtime acquaintance about his slain son, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Terrance Johnson, 40, is accused of opening fire in the 1000 block of North Lavergne Avenue about 8:30 p.m. Sunday — fatally shooting Lonnell Holmes, 24, in his head and back.
According to state records, Holmes had been released on parole just four days earlier, on Oct. 18. He'd been sentenced in 2015 to four years in prison for stealing a car someone left running in cold weather.
Johnson was denied bail Wednesday on a first-degree murder charge.
Prosecutors said Holmes "made an insulting comment" about Johnson's son, who was murdered earlier this year, when Holmes and Johnson had a chance encounter in Austin on Sunday.
Johnson shoved Holmes before pulling out a gun and shooting him several times in front of several witnesses, Assistant State's Attorney Guy Lisuzzo said during a bond hearing Wednesday at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, 2650 S. California Ave.
Details about the son's murder were not immediately available.
Lisuzzo said Johnson has carried a gun since his son was killed.
Johnson fled the scene, but returned to the area a short while later and entered a nearby residence, according to prosecutors. Witnesses pointed him out to police, who confiscated Johnson's clothing, which would later test positive for gunshot residue, Lisuzzo said.
Holmes was pronounced dead on the scene.
At the time of the shooting, Johnson was free on bond for a pending drug case. Bail was set in that matter at $40,000 in December, court records show. Johnson was released from Cook County Jail in February after posting $4,000, or the requisite 10 percent needed to go free.
Johnson has been convicted of possession of a controlled substance, manufacturing and delivering heroin, driving on a suspended or revoked license, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, DUI and possession of marijuana.
His public defender said Johnson, of the 1000 block of North Leclaire Avenue, lives with his pregnant girlfriend and the couple's 10-year-old daughter. He has two teenage sons from a previous relationship, the attorney said, and works as a mechanic.
Cook County Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr. on Wednesday denied Johnson bail, calling the allegations against him "disturbing to say the least."
According to state records, Holmes had prior drug convictions.
On Oct. 19, one day after his prison release, he posted on Facebook: "Holiday season im out cheer.."
A friend shared a video of Holmes on the social-networking site Monday:
