A Joliet man is facing murder charges after an April 2 shooting inside the lobby of a Kenwood apartment building left a maintenance worker dead, authorities said. Chicago police say 38-year-old Gaddis Price Jr. was arrested Monday and is accused of opening fire after an argument broke out near the front entrance. Neighbors told reporters the victim stepped in to back up a security guard as the confrontation escalated. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he later died.
Arrest and charges
According to Chicago police, Price was taken into custody on Monday and charged with felony first-degree murder and possession of a controlled substance. He is scheduled to appear at a detention hearing on Thursday, CBS Chicago reported. Investigators identified Price as the suspect in the April 2 shooting in the 4500 block of South Drexel Boulevard and listed his age as 38 and his hometown as Joliet. Detectives have not publicly discussed a motive and say the investigation is ongoing.
Shooting unfolded in the building lobby
Officers responding to the scene found a 42-year-old man shot in the lobby, with wounds to his left hand, right shoulder and chest. He was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center and died a few hours later, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, which identified him as Alonzo Johnson. An earlier police summary of the shooting was also carried by FOX 32 Chicago, which noted that Area One detectives were investigating and that no one was initially in custody.
Neighbors describe the scene
Neighbors told reporters the victim worked maintenance in the building and stepped in when a dispute flared between a security guard, a tenant and her boyfriend, according to CBS Chicago. They said the argument intensified before shots were fired in the lobby. One tenant later identified the boyfriend as the person who pulled the trigger, neighbors told reporters. Police say evidence collection is still underway and have not said whether a firearm has been recovered.
What happens next
Price is expected to appear at a detention hearing on Thursday, where a judge will decide whether he will be held without bail or released under certain conditions ahead of trial. A conviction for first-degree murder in Illinois carries severe penalties laid out in the state Criminal Code, as detailed by the Illinois General Assembly. For now, the charges remain allegations, and Price is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
