#42 - Man killed 1, injured 3 in expressway shooting while on bond for attempted murder, prosecutor say

We tried to put a positive spin on things after Antwan Carter was charged with aggravated DUI and reckless driving in June — while on bond for attempted murder.

“At least he’s not accused of having a gun,” we said.

Well, that changed on Saturday when prosecutors accused Carter of shooting four people, killing one, as they rode on the Eisenhower Expressway in April. And, yes, he was also on bond for attempted murder at the time.

Carter is the 42nd person accused of killing, trying to kill, or shooting someone in Chicago this year while on felony bond.

About a year ago, Carter’s girlfriend posted a $10,000 cash deposit to get him out of jail to await trial in a 2018 attempted murder case, according to court records. Carter had been held on a higher bail since October 2018, but a judge agreed to reduce his bail amount in August 2020 after his defense attorney filed a motion citing COVID-19 pandemic dangers inside Cook County jail, records show.

On April 12, 32-year-old Carter was with three other people in a red Dodge Durango that followed a carload of people from a nightclub in south suburban Harvey, prosecutors said Saturday. Just after midnight, as the cars neared Ashland Avenue on the Eisenhower Expressway, shooters from the Durango opened fire on the victims’ car.

The 22-year-old driver was shot in the head and died. Three of his passengers were also shot but survived. A fourth passenger was not injured.

The victims’ car crashed nearby, and the Durango also crashed near Damen Avenue, prosecutors said. Surveillance video shows four people running from the Durango and hiding in alleys and porches on nearby side streets.

One video shows Carter hiding on the 100 block of South Paulina, prosecutors said. Other videos allegedly show Carter’s girlfriend leaving her home and picking him up from his hiding spot.

State police investigators recovered an AK47-style rifle from the Durango. Casings from rifle fire and a handgun were found at the shooting scene. According to prosecutors, Carter’s fingerprint was found on the front passenger door, and his DNA was among four profiles recovered from the rifle’s trigger and grip.

Troopers also found three phones in the Durango. Carter’s DNA was allegedly on two of them, including one that contained photos of traffic violations issued to him and photos of a rifle similar to the one found in the Durango, prosecutors said. Also allegedly on the phone were screenshots of a COVID relief application and a loan application, both in Carter’s name, as well as a copy of the electronic monitoring agreement he entered into after being charged with DUI in June.

Investigators used GPS data to determine that someone used the phone to Google the club where the Durango was seen trailing the victims’ car, and GPS data showed the phone was at the club, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors charged Carter with first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder.

Assistant Public Defender Courtney Smallwood argued that just because he was at the same club as the victims does not mean he’s responsible for shooting them. She said he has two children and his girlfriend is pregnant.

Judge Arthur Willis set bail at $1 million and ordered Carter held without bail for violating the terms of bond in the pending attempted murder 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.

#42 – Man killed 1, injured 3 in expressway shooting while on bond for attempted murder, prosecutor say

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