COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — Last month's double-homicide outside Halsted Bowl in West Pullman began as an argument over a stolen gun, prosecutors said Thursday.
Rodney Harbin, 34, is charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting that happened about 12:40 a.m. Sep. 21 outside the bowling alley at 12345 S. Halsted St.
Harbin was at Halsted Bowl that evening with several friends from his motorcycle club, including 28-year-old Donald Brunson, Assistant State's Attorney Jamie Santini said during a bond hearing Thursday.
Miguel Williams, 34, was also at Halsted Bowl with a separate group of people, prosecutors said.
At some point, Harbin got into an argument with two of Williams' friends because Harbin believed Williams had stolen a gun from him, according to Santini.
After the argument, both of Williams' friends got into an SUV where Williams was sitting with a loaded gun, prosecutors said.
Several minutes later, Harbin approached the SUV with a gun in hand, prosecutors said. He pointed the gun at the SUV's driver and demanded he be given the SUV as compensation for the stolen gun, Santini said.
Brunson then opened the SUV's back door, where Williams was waiting with a gun, according to prosecutors. Williams began shooting — fatally striking Brunson in his chest, Santini said.
At that point, Harbin opened fire into the SUV, fatally shooting Williams in his back, prosecutors said. The SUV's driver sped off and flagged down a Chicago Police squad car, according to Santini. Williams was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police found 17 shell casings outside Halsted Bowl, prosecutors said.
Officers issued a warrant for Harbin, who was arrested Tuesday.
Harbin's defense attorney in court Thursday argued that Harbin was acting in self-defense that evening: "This was multiple shots exchanged."
Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil on Thursday denied Harbin bail.
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