Hairdresser charged in murder, robbery of elderly man on South Side

A hairdresser accused of standing as a lookout while another man robbed and beat an 88-year-old man to death was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bail Saturday.

Cook County prosecutors said Samuel Higgins and his cohort were looking for someone to rob when they spotted Arthur Hearn waiting for the bus to go to work on the morning of Sept. 25.

Higgins, 29, allegedly acted as a lookout while the other suspect hit the elderly man in the head, knocking him to the ground in the 8500 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue, prosecutors said.

Witnesses also saw the other suspect kneel over the injured man and take something from his pocket.

Prosecutors said Higgins yelled at a passer-by who tried to help Hearn. The passer-by flagged down a patrol car, and the suspects fled, authorities said.

Hearn, of the 8400 block of South Langley Avenue, died as a result of his head injuries, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Higgins, of the 900 block of East 84th Street, was arrested on Thursday.

He was allegedly captured on surveillance camera and identified by one of the officers who was flagged down.

Higgins, who appeared in court in a short fur cape, T-shirt and blue jeans, is facing murder and robbery charges.

He has six previous felony convictions, including prostitution, according to court records.

Samuel Higgins / Photo from Chicago Police Department