COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A Humboldt Park man was held without bail Tuesday after prosecutors alleged he opened fire at a group of rival gang members — killing 19-year-old Alex Malone.
The group had come to confront Shane Eli, 19, after he punched two members of their gang in two separate incidents earlier that day, Assistant State's Attorney Joe DiBella said during a bond hearing Tuesday.
"You pose a threat," Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. told Eli. "No bail."
The group of rival gang members sought out Eli at one of his known hangouts in the 4100 block of West Wilcox Street about 6:40 p.m. Friday, DiBella said. As they approached, Eli allegedly stepped out of a house, pulled a gun and opened fire.
Malone was shot in his head and taken in critical condition to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to authorities.
No one else was shot in the incident.
Eli, of the 4100 block of West Iowa Street, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder after several witnesses identified him as the shooter, DiBella said.
In court Tuesday, prosecutors argued that Eli should be held without bail since he could be sentenced to life in prison if he's convicted.
Eli's attorney argued that his client could have been acting in self-defense since the group of rival gang members that was seeking him out on Friday afternoon had malicious intentions. The attorney urged Judge Bourgeois Jr. to set a bond.
The judge declined, dubbing Eli "a threat."
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