COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — The Morgan Park teen killed earlier this month was targeted as part of an ongoing gang feud, prosecutors said Wednesday.
James Moore, 17, was gunned down in the 10900 block of South Peoria Street about 11:50 a.m. July 12 after a group of rival gang members spent two to three weeks watching him, Assistant State's Attorney Holly Grosshans said during a bond hearing Wednesday.
According to prosecutors, four people chased Moore before at least two of them pulled guns and began shooting at him.
Authorities have identified 18-year-old Antonio Vera as one of the attackers. It was not immediately clear whether Vera fired the shots, but police found 20 shell casings from 9mm and .40-caliber handguns on the scene, Grosshans said.
According to prosecutors, Moore was a member of the Four Block gang, while Vera and his accomplices, who have yet to be charged, are part of the LOC gang.
Officials believe that gang rivalry — paired with the fact that one of Vera's accomplices was dating Moore's sister — led to the fatal shooting.
Vera and his accomplices rode a silver SUV to the area near 109th and Peoria streets about 11:50 a.m. July 12, prosecutors said. Once they spotted Moore, the group stepped out of the SUV and began chasing him down the street. At least two gunmen opened fire — fatally striking Moore 12 times, according to Grosshans.
A witness who heard gunshots looked outside and saw Vera running down the street in black pants and a white shirt, carrying a gun, prosecutors said.
Once police arrested Vera about 8:30 p.m. Sunday, he confessed to being in the silver SUV that day and knowing a shooting was going to happen, Grosshans said. He also named all of his accomplices, admitted to the motive and said that both 9mm and .40-caliber guns were used in the shooting, prosecutors said.
Vera, of the 1300 block of West 107th Street, is charged with first-degree murder.
Cook County Judge Peggy Chiampas on Wednesday set bail for him at $750,000.
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