COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — The man accused of shooting a suburban man to death near Millennium Park committed the murder in front of his own girlfriend and her five children, prosecutors revealed in court Tuesday.
Paul Pagan, identified as a street gang member, is charged with shooting the 54-year-old Berwyn man twice point blank — once in his head and once in his stomach.
Police allege Pagan, 32, intervened in an argument between Peter Fabbri and a group of people on Michigan Avenue who were passing out religious pamphlets. Fabbri, a Christian, took issue with the hateful things the other group was preaching, police said.
RELATED: Murder Near Millennium Park Began With An Argument About Religion: Police
That's when Pagan, who didn't know Fabbri or the other group, intervened and killed Fabbri in front of the children, prosecutors said.
Cook County Judge James Brown denied Pagan bail Tuesday, calling the man "a great danger to the community."
It all started about 7:35 p.m. Saturday when Fabbri, his mother and girlfriend left Millennium Park — where the trio had attended "a gourmet food and wine-tasting event" — and began walking toward a nearby "L" station, Assistant State's Attorney Jamie Santini said during a bond hearing Tuesday.
Fabbri and the women began arguing with the religious group near Michigan and Monroe, where a verbal altercation soon turned into a "pushing and shoving" match, Santini said.
Pagan, meanwhile was bicycling westbound on Monroe alongside his girlfriend and her five children, all of whom were walking, prosecutors said. Pagan intervened in the fight and soon began arguing with Fabbri, according to authorities.
The men began to shove one another, Santini said. Pagan then pulled out a .22 caliber revolver and shoot Fabbri twice, authorities said.
As Pagan tried to ride off on his bike, a good Samaritan grabbed him, prosecutors said. But Pagan's girlfriend soon struck the Samaritan, causing the woman to lose her grip on Pagan, according to Santini.
Police found Pagan in the area five minutes later, still carrying the revolver with four bullets and two spent cartridges in the cylinder, prosecutors said. Multiple witnesses were able to identify Pagan, who has multiple distinctive tattoos, as the shooter.
Fabbri was rushed in critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he died Sunday.
According to prosecutors, Pagan has a pending domestic-battery case, as well as previous convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of marijuana, reckless conduct and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
Pagan's public defender said Pagan has six children, including two with autism. Pagan has spent the past two years caring for the autistic children and previously worked in shipping, the attorney said.
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