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Second Man Charged in Fatal Hyatt Shooting Egged on Gunman, Prosecutors Say

By  Erica Demarest and David Matthews | February 5, 2016 11:16am | Updated on February 5, 2016 1:51pm

  James Briscoe, 23, told the gunman to "blow that motherf----- and finish him," prosecutors said.
James Briscoe, 23, told the gunman to "blow that motherf----- and finish him," prosecutors said.
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DNAinfo/Devlin Brown; Chicago Police Department

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A second man has been charged in the fatal Hyatt Regency shooting that killed Courtney Taylor late last month.

Taylor, 25, was at a party at the South Loop hotel when a fight over a woman broke out in the hotel lobby, Assistant State's Attorney Jamie Santini said during a bond hearing Friday.

Alleged gunman Armonte Hooper, 23, was charged Jan. 30 with first-degree murder.

On Friday, alleged accomplice James Briscoe, also 23, appeared before Cook County Judge Laura Sullivan also on first-degree murder charges.

Prosecutors allege Taylor and several friends tried to leave the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, 2233 S. King Drive, about 2:20 a.m. on Jan. 23 when they were stopped by a male partygoer.

The man — who is friends with Hooper and Briscoe — accused one of Taylor's friends of hitting on his girlfriend, Santini said. A physical fight involving Hooper and Briscoe soon broke out.

Hotel security was able to break up the fight, prosecutors said, and Hooper, Briscoe and their friends left the hotel.

They returned a minute later to continue fighting with Taylor and his friends, according to Santini.

During a confrontation that ensued, Hooper pulled a gun and pointed it at one of Taylor's friends, prosecutors said. Someone allegedly yelled "gun," and Taylor's group tried to scatter.

In the ensuing chaos, someone hit one of Taylor's friends over the head with a glass table top, Santini said. As Taylor tried to help his friend, Hooper began shooting, striking Taylor.

At that point, witnesses heard Briscoe yell, "Blow that motherf----- and finish him," prosecutors said. Hooper then stood over Taylor and fired multiple rounds. In all, Taylor was shot five times, Santini said, including a close-range gunshot to his head.

After the shooting, which was captured on hotel surveillance footage, Hooper and Briscoe fled the scene, prosecutors said.

A witness identified both men in photo arrays.

Briscoe's public defender on Friday said Briscoe lives in suburban Evanston with his parents. She said her client works and has a certificate in forklift operation.

Judge Sullivan on Friday ordered Briscoe held in lieu of $1 million bail.

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