A River North man who has 11 felony convictions is now charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting his girlfriend during an argument near his downtown apartment over the weekend. Keith Longstreet, 37, was ordered held without bail by Cook County Judge David Navarro.
Prosecutors said Longstreet’s 35-year-old girlfriend joined a group of people for a barbecue at his apartment in the 300 block of West Illinois on Saturday evening. The gathering broke up around 1 a.m. Sunday and Longstreet began insulting and yelling at the woman as she and other partygoers walked down the sidewalk, Assistant State’s Attorney Lindsey Patton said.
At one point, the woman threw water on Longstreet and slapped his face, Patton continued. Longstreet allegedly punched the woman, grabbed her by the hair, and threw her to the ground. Another member of the group stepped in to break it up, and Longstreet returned to his apartment building, Patton continued.
A few minutes later, Longstreet returned to the group on the 200 block of West Illinois, pulled a gun from his waistband, and held the weapon to his girlfriend’s face, Patton said. He allegedly threatened to kill the woman and others who were with her.
Patton said Longstreet began to walk away, then turned around and fired several shots at the group. One bullet hit his girlfriend in the back, pierced her liver, and lodged beneath her heart, according to Patton. Doctors cannot remove the bullet, she said. Police found nine shell casings and one live round at the shooting scene.
Longstreet ran back to his apartment building after the shooting, and police found him in the lobby, sweating profusely and out of breath as he waited for an elevator, Patton said.
Longstreet is charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery by discharging a firearm. His next scheduled court appearance is June 1.
Patton said he was arrested for domestic battery involving the same woman in 2019 while on parole for two narcotics cases. He has been sentenced to prison several other times, including for being a felon in possession of a weapon, aggravated fleeing, felony escape, and operating a criminal drug conspiracy. In November, Longstreet was charged with several felonies after allegedly speeding away from Joliet police investigating a “person wanted” call in Will County.