COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A North Lawndale man has been charged with murdering his wife's "godbrother," prosecutors said Monday.
Byron Johnson, 45, was arguing with his wife inside the couple's home in the 1400 block of South Avers Avenue about 8:45 a.m. Oct. 25 when the wife asked Johnson to leave, Assistant State's Attorney Kristin Estrada said during a bond hearing Monday.
The wife began to pack Johnson's belongings, prosecutors said, while a man identified as her "godbrother," 39-year-old Lamar Watson, helped.
Johnson became enraged and hit Watson with a crutch, Estrada said. The two engaged in a fistfight, Estrada said, but Watson eventually walked away.
At that point, Johnson followed Watson into the kitchen, grabbed a kitchen knife and fatally stabbed Watson twice in his chest, prosecutors said. Watson was unarmed.
Johnson fled the scene, but was identified by multiple witnesses as the attacker, Estrada said. Police issued a warrant, and Johnson was arrested Sunday after police stopped a vehicle for driving with suspended license plates. Johnson was the front-seat passenger in that car.
Watson was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital at 9:20 a.m. Oct. 25, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
Johnson is charged with first-degree murder.
Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. on Monday denied Johnson bail.
