COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — An Austin man has been charged in the September murder that left Dan Rance riddled with 18 bullets.
Rance, 23, was standing outside his home on Sept. 2 when 19-year-old Marquise Willis allegedly walked up and opened fire, Assistant State's Attorney Brian Whang said during a bond hearing Thursday.
Willis, of the 4900 block of West Hirsch Street, is charged with first-degree murder. Cook County Judge Donald Panarese Jr. on Thursday set bail at $1.5 million.
The attack happened about 11:35 p.m. Sept. 2 in the 700 block of North Long Avenue, police said.
Rance had parked his car and was standing outside when Willis and an accomplice parked their own SUV down the block, Whang said. A witness allegedly saw the same SUV in the area five or six days earlier.
While an accomplice waited inside the SUV, Willis walked toward Rance and opened fire — shooting him in the back, prosecutors said. Rance fell to the ground, and Willis walked toward him, firing additional rounds, according to witnesses.
In all, Rance was shot 18 times, Whang noted.
Prosecutors on Thursday didn't offer a motive. Police in September said Rance had ties to a local gang.
After the shooting, Willis got back in the SUV, and his accomplice drove off, prosecutors said. Two witnesses later identified Willis as the shooter, and eight 9-mm shell casings were found on the scene.
Rance was pronounced dead on the scene at 11:50 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
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