COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A Brighton Park man has been charged with manslaughter in the death of Kristopher Weiss.
On July 22, officials found Weiss, 45, with a severe head injury in the 3000 block of South Normal, police said. Police said he had gotten into a fight with a man, who was later identified as Phillip Levato.
Levato punched Weiss in the face, causing him to fall and hit his head on the pavement, police said. He later died.
Levato, 48, of the 2500 block of West 36th Street, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in Weiss' death, according to Chicago Police. He turned himself in, police said.
The incident unfolded July 22 at 11:45 p.m., Assistant State's Attorney Jamie Santini said during a bond hearing Friday afternoon.
After leaving First Base Sports Bar in the 3200 block of South Normal, Weiss was walking home in the 3000 block of South Normal when a black pickup truck "came screeching to a stop," prosecutors said. According to court records, Levato was driving the truck.
A passenger in the front of the truck then got out and approached Weiss. An argument broke out, and Levato also got out of the truck, prosecutors said. He allegedly told his passenger to "get out of there," Santini said.
The passenger then allegedly punched Weiss in the face one time. Weiss stumbled back but did not fall to the ground. Levato again told the other attacker to leave, and he did, walking southbound down Normal, officials said.
Levato then walked to the pickup, grabbed a pair of sunglasses, according to court records, and threw them at Weiss' feet.
"'F--- you,'" Weiss said, according to Santini.
"'Do you really want to do this?'" Levato said.
"'Yes,'" Weiss said. "'F--- you.'"
Levato then walked up to Weiss and punched him one time in the side of the head, knocking him to the ground and causing the back of his head to hit the cement with a loud thud sound, Santini said. Levato then "calmly walked back to his truck and drove away from the scene."
Officials did not say whether Levato and Weiss knew each other before the incident and made no mention of motive.
Levato was ordered held on $100,000 bond.
After the bond hearing, Ralph Meczyk, one of Levato's attorneys, said his client has been "falsely accused."
"We're going to get him acquitted," Meczyk said.
Friends have raised more than $12,000 to help Weiss' family after his death.
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