What started as a robbery on a West Side block ended with one man dead, a woman critically wounded, and a 31-year-old Chicagoan now facing a slate of felony charges, police say.
According to Chicago police, 31-year-old Zakaria Abdrahim has been charged in a Nov. 21 shooting in the 4500 block of W. Fifth Avenue. Officers say Abdrahim took property from one of the victims before opening fire, killing a 31-year-old man and leaving a 26-year-old woman in critical condition.
Police say Abdrahim was identified as the person who shot both victims at the scene. He now faces counts including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and armed robbery.
FOX 32 Chicago, citing information from the Chicago Police Department, reports that prosecutors have filed one count of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murde,r and an armed robbery charge among other felonies. Officials listed Abdrahim's next court date as Thursday.
Charges and what they carry
Under Illinois law, first-degree murder is defined as an intentional killing or a death that occurs during the commission of certain forcible felonies, such as robbery. The statute for first-degree murder appears at 720 ILCS 5/9-1 in the state’s criminal code, as published by the Illinois General Assembly.
Illinois’ sentencing code, summarized by Justia, sets a typical sentencing range of 20 to 60 years for first-degree murder, with extended terms of up to 100 years or natural life in specified circumstances.
What’s next
Abdrahim's next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, when prosecutors are expected to present formal charges in open court and seek either pretrial detention or bond.
The Chicago Police Department provided the initial details in the case, and investigators have not publicly announced a motive. As the case moves forward, filings from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and the public circuit court docket are expected to offer the clearest record of how the prosecution unfolds.
