Cops: Ill. man killed for not protecting murdered pal
CHICAGO -- David Stewart and Demetrius Pitts had already lost a friend to gun violence before Pitts was killed was on a summer evening in Chicago in 2010.
Police say Stewart shot Pitts for not protecting their friend.
CBS Chicago reports that Stewart and Pitts were among a crowd that gathered at an outdoor memorial for their recently deceased friend on Aug. 10, 2010, when Stewart allegedly opened fire, striking Pitts multiple times in the chest and back.
Stewart was seen before the shooting pacing back and forth expressing his anger, according to Assistant State's Attorney Sarah Karr said.
A witness allegedly saw Stewart run from the scene with a black semi-automatic handgun, Karr said. That witness also saw Stewart passing the weapon to another person as he fled, Karr said.
Stewart, now 34, was arrested Tuesday at ABC Choice, a cell phone store where he works as a salesman, according to assistant public defender Julie Koehler.
Judge James Brown Thursday asked Karr why it took police so long to arrest Stewart since at least two witnesses say they saw him shoot Pitts.
Karr said one witness was first interviewed in 2010, but eventually provided information that led to Stewart during another interview last year.
Stewart was on parole for a 2011 weapons case. He has eight prior felony convictions for mostly drug-related charges. He was ordered held on $2 million bail.