CHICAGO — A second man has been charged with the murder of Arthur Hearn during an early morning robbery in September.
Clarence Sams, 24, of the 9200 Block of South Dobson Avenue, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder and another count of robbery.
Last week, Samuel Higgins, 29, of the 900 block of East 84th Street, was charged with one count of murder and another count of robbery.
Around 4:55 a.m. on Sept. 25, Sams struck Hearn, 88, to the ground and went through his pockets while Higgins stood watch on the 8500 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue, according to Assistant State's Attorney Robert Mack.
A witness heard Sams and Higgins say they were going to get some money before the incident took place, Mack said in court.
The witness then saw Sams walk past the victim, while Higgins watched on the sidewalk. Sams struck Hearn, and while Hearn lay on the ground, Sams searched Hearns' pockets, said Mack.
The witness ran to the victim and began to call 911, when he saw a squad car coming south on Cottage Grove. The witness then flagged down the squad car while Higgins walked across the street and Sams fled east, Mack said.
Hearn was initially taken to Jackson Park Hospital for treatment. He was later taken to Stroger Hospital where he died from his injuries on Sept. 28.
Hearn, of the 8400 block of South Langley Avenue, was pronounced dead from cranial cerebral injuries and his death was declared a homicide by the Cook County Medical Examiner.
According to the Mack, witnesses identified both Higgins and Sams, while surveillance video from the area captured portions of the incident.
Sams was arrested on Oct. 7 and a gave videotaped admission of the incident, Mack said.
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