#20: Gunman in Diversey River Bowl shoot-out was on bail for another gun case, prosecutors say

Police found 55 shell casings after three men engaged in a shootout on the Diversey River Bowl’s parking lot early Tuesday, prosecutors said as they filed charges against one of the alleged shooters.

Robin Burks, 28, was on bail for a pending gun case when he allegedly exchanged fire with the other men after an argument on the parking lot at 2211 West Diversey. Burks’ pregnant girlfriend was shot in the leg during the incident, prosecutors said.

Burks is the 20th person to be accused of killing, shooting, or trying to shoot someone in Chicago this year while on bond for another felony, according to records maintained by CWBChicago.

Prosecutors said surveillance video shows Burks talking with a man on the parking lot while pointing a handgun with an extended ammunition magazine at a second man around 12:30 a.m. The other two men took cover behind a car and began shooting at Burks, prosecutors said. Burks allegedly ducked behind another car and returned fire.

After the shootout, Burks allegedly drove his 28-year-old girlfriend to Thorek Hospital to be treated for her gunshot wound. While she was in treatment, police reviewed surveillance video of the shooting and realized Burks was one of the shooters based on his clothing, hair, and other features, prosecutors said. Officers took him into custody.

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Burks, sitting handcuffed in the back of a squad car outside the hospital, told a bystander he “had to put their asses in check,” prosecutors said. The squad car’s surveillance system allegedly recorded his statement.

Prosecutors charged Burks with reckless discharge of a firearm.

Defense attorney Matt Prengaman told Judge Mary Marubio that the case may be a matter of self-defense.

In January 2020, prosecutors charged Burks with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possessing a high-capacity ammunition magazine in the West Pullman neighborhood. He was on bail for that case at the time of Tuesday’s shooting.

Marubio ordered him held without bail for violating the terms of bond in the pending case. She set bail in the new case at $50,000. If Burks becomes eligible for release, he’ll need to post $5,000 to get out of jail on electronic monitoring.

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