#36: Uber Eats driver was gunned down in random attack by man who's on bond for gun case, prosecutors say

A Chicago man who opened fire on an Uber Eats delivery driver in a completely random attack this week was on bail while awaiting trial for being a felon in possession of a firearm, prosecutors said Saturday. Kye Griffin, 27, is now the 36th person accused of killing, trying to kill, or shooting someone in Chicago this year while on felony bond.

The victim, 26, drove to an address on the 10100 block of South Oglesby to make a food delivery around 4:36 p.m. Wednesday, prosecutors said. No one answered the door when he tried to complete the order, so he began walking back to his car.

As he did, Griffin rolled by in a gray car and opened fire on the victim, whom he had never met before, according to prosecutors.

“It’s just a random person. He’s trying to work,” an assistant state’s attorney said during Griffin’s bond hearing.

One bullet struck the victim in his stomach and exited through his buttocks, the prosecutor said. After being shot, the man ran into an alley and called 911 with a description of the shooter.

Police arrived in about a minute and saw Griffin, who matched the description, walking away quickly, prosecutors said. When cops asked Griffin if he saw anything, he allegedly ran.

He was carrying a handgun when cops caught up with him, prosecutors said. Tests allegedly determined that shell casings found at the shooting scene and in a stolen gray car that was abandoned nearby were discharged by Griffin’s gun.

Prosecutors said Griffin tried to urinate on his hands while in police custody, a technique suspected shooters often use to wash gunshot residue from their hands.

The Uber Eats driver was listed in critical condition after the shooting, police said. But he was able to pick Griffin out of a photo line-up, according to prosecutors.

Griffin is charged with attempted first-degree murder, armed habitual criminal, and aggravated battery with a firearm. He was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in November and posted $1,000 to get out of jail after appearing before Judge David Navarro, court records show. In addition to the pending case, he received a three-year sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2014. His other felony convictions include aggravated battery of a peace officer and possession of a controlled substance.

A public defender said Griffin lives in Bellwood and has four children with a fifth on the way. The attorney said he has a metal rod in his leg because he was once shot 11 times.

Judge Susana Ortiz ordered Griffin held without bail in the new case and held without bail for violating the terms of bond in the November gun case.

Editor’s note: This report continues our coverage of individuals who have been charged with murder, attempted murder, or trying to kill a person while on bond for a pending felony case. CWBChicago began our series of reports in November 2019 after Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans publicly stated, “we haven’t had any horrible incidents occur” under the court’s bond reform initiative.

The actual number of murders and shootings committed by people on felony bail is undoubtedly much higher than the numbers seen here. Since 2017, CPD has made arrests in just 4% of shootings and 31% of murders, according to the city’s data. You can support CWBChicago’s work by becoming a subscriber today.

#36: Uber Eats driver was gunned down in random attack by man who’s on bond for gun case, prosecutors say

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