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Alleged Gunman Bragged He 'Knocked the Code of Silence Off' Victim's Face

By  Emily Morris and Erin Meyer | February 14, 2013 9:47am | Updated on February 14, 2013 3:26pm

 Antonio Lewis, 29, of the 4300 block of West Gladys Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder.
Antonio Lewis, 29, of the 4300 block of West Gladys Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder.
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Chicago Police Department

CHICAGO — A West Garfield Park man allegedly bragged he "knocked the code of silence off" his victim's face after fatally shooting him point-blank in the head, prosecutors said.

Antonio Lewis, 29, of the 4300 block of West Gladys Avenue, was held without bail Thursday on charges that he fatally shot Maurice Vortes, 28, in Decemeber 2011.

Lewis was referring to a "code of silence" tattoo that was on Vortes' face, prosecutors said.

About 9 p.m. on Dec. 29, 2011, Lewis entered Way Lo Liquor Store, 1553 S. Kedzie Ave., where his victim was helping staff load stock, prosecutors said.

Vortes had a friend who allegedly didn't like Lewis hanging around the store. Lewis left for a brief time but returned wearing a hoodie, mask, and carrying a gun with an extended clip, prosecutors said.

Lewis walked up to Vortes and shot Vortes point-blank in the head, prosecutors said. After Vortes fell, Lewis allegedly continued to shoot him, hitting him in the head and hands several times.

Lewis immediately fled, balling up his sweatshirt and putting it in a bag. He returned to a party he had been at earlier where he bragged he had just "knocked the code of silence off his [Vortes'] face," prosecutors said.

Witnesses later identified Lewis, and the incident was caught on surveillance video from the liquor store, prosecutors said.

Vortes was pronounced dead on the scene with multiple gunshot wounds to his head, police said.