A South Shore man was charged with attempted murder Wednesday in connection with a shooting near the W Hotel City Center in the Loop earlier this month. Jeaun Tapley, 30, was ordered held without bail by Judge Arthur Willis.
Hotel surveillance video showed Tapley dropping someone off outside the hotel on the 100 block of West Adams and then driving away around 2 a.m. on July 17, according to Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Burkhardt.
The person who got out of Tapley’s car went to a nearby McDonald’s walk-up window where he got involved in an argument with several people and swung his fist a someone who was in line for food, Burkhardt said.
Before long, Tapley pulled back up in front of the W, walked into the McDonald’s, and walked a woman out of the restaurant, Burkhardt continued. Tapley then pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots toward the people who were outside the restaurant, Burkhardt said.
The victim, a 25-year-old man, was shot twice in the arm and once in the chest. Both bones in one of his forearms were broken, according to Burkhardt.
Tapley returned to his car and drove away.
CPD said in an initial media statement that the shooter was a woman. But Burkhardt said McDonald’s surveillance cameras recorded the shooting and clearly showed Tapley’s distinct hairstyle and a physical handicap on his arm. Video from the hotel clearly shows the license plate of his car, according to Burkhardt.
The victim and two witnesses identified Tapley as the shooter in photo line-ups, Burkhardt said. Police arrested Tapley on Tuesday.
He is charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery by discharging a firearm.
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