COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — Two parolees are facing first-degree murder charges after fatally shooting two longtime friends a block away from their grade school, authorities said.
Jonathan Thompson, 33, is currently on parole for aggravated battery and a litany of drug charges. To date, he's racked up 12 felony convictions, according to prosecutors.
Michael Laster, 28, is on parole for a 2012 drug conviction, for which he was sentenced to six years in prison.
Both men are accused of fatally shooting two people in an Uptown parking lot about 2:17 a.m. Wednesday, Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Keating said during a bond hearing Friday.
The victims — two men, ages 32 and 34, who have not yet been identified by authorities — and a witness had just returned to the area after spending the evening out, prosecutors said. As the victims pulled into the parking lot, they spotted Thompson and Laster.
According to Keating, the victims and witness had been friends with Thompson until an incident in early August. Both victims walked toward Thompson to talk about the incident, as Laster and the witness walked away.
The victims and Thompson began to argue, prosecutors said, and Thompson pulled a gun. The two victims tried to wrestle it away, but Thompson fired several shots — striking each man, prosecutors said.
As the shots rang out, the witness ran back toward the victims, Keating said, and saw Laster approach the group, pull a gun and shoot the 32-year-old victim in his head.
Laster then turned and fired at the witness, but missed, prosecutors said.
The first victim, 32, was shot in his head, ear and abdomen, and pronounced dead on the scene. The second victim, 34, was shot in his jaw and arm, and pronounced dead at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to prosecutors.
Several witnesses identified Thompson and Laster as the shooters, and police recovered six spent shell casings at the scene, Keating said.
Resident Jim Moore, who's lived on the "normally very quiet block" for about 8 years, said he heard about five shots early Wednesday and woke up to police reviewing security footage of his apartment.
Thompson and Laster were arrested 45 minutes after the shooting wearing pants that appeared to have blood on them, prosecutors said.
Thompson, of the 5400 block of North Kenmore Avenue, and Laster, of the 6100 block of North Seeley Avenue, were each charged with first-degree murder.
Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. on Friday ordered both men held without bail.
Thompson's public defender said his client has a 13-year-old child and works for a temp service. Prosecutors said Thompson's 12 felony convictions include multiple drug charges and battery. He also has a 2015 misdemeanor conviction for contact with a street gang while on parole.
Laster's public defender said his client works as a Wingstop cook, lives with his fiancee and has two children, ages 12 and 4. Prosecutors said Laster has been charged with three felony convictions to date, including two drug incidents and possession of a stolen vehicle.
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