Fourth person charged with fatal shooting outside River North nightclub

SHARE Fourth person charged with fatal shooting outside River North nightclub

A fourth person has been charged in connection with a shooting outside a trendy River North nightclub in August that left one man dead and another seriously wounded.

Arthur Walker, 23, of the 100 block of North Mason, is charged with first-degree murder, according to Chicago Police. He was arrested by Cicero police on Sunday, authorities said.

Walker was with Javon Almond, Deandre Hughes, and Bianca Young when they left the Bodi nightclub about 3:50 a.m. on Aug. 3 and found Martrell Ross and two acquaintances leaning against the group’s white car in the 800 block of North Orleans, according to prosecutors.

The nightclub had hosted a Lollapalooza after-party for rapper Nas, authorities said.

Young, 23, initiated an argument between the two groups that escalated into a fight and Ross, 32, got punched and knocked into the middle of the street, prosecutors said.

Almond, 17, Young and Walker fled in the car, but Hughes, 19, continued to taunt the rival group, prosecutors said.

The car came back to pick up Hughes, but instead of getting inside he opened the back door and remained there for a moment. Almond, Hughes and Walker then got out of the car with guns and chased Ross into a nearby alley, prosecutors said.

Walker allegedly fired at Ross until he fell to the ground, prosecutors said. Almond then went up to Ross as he lay in the alley and allegedly shot him numerous times.

Ross, of the 300 block of South Mozart Street, was shot eight times and died at the scene, authorities said.

Ross’ 21-year-old acquaintance ran to help, but Hughes hit him from behind then shot him the back, side, forearm and foot, prosecutors claim.

After the shootings, Young drove the car to a nearby Circle K gas station, where she picked up the three attackers.

The argument and fight were recorded on the club’s surveillance camera, prosecutors said. Police also recovered a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun with Almond’s palm print.

All four suspects were identified in a physical lineup, prosecutors said. The three other defendants — Almond, Hughes, and Young — were arrested in August. Bond was denied for Almond and Hughes, and Young was ordered held on a $1 million bond.

Ross’ uncle, Curtis Gross Sr., said his nephew enjoyed rap music and dancing. Court records indicate Ross was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a 2000 attempted murder conviction and six years in prison for a 2007 drug conspiracy conviction.

The Latest
The ensemble storyline captures not just a time and place, but a core theme playwright August Wilson continued to express throughout his Century Cycle.
At 70, the screen stalwart charms as reformed thief with a goofball brother and an inscrutable ex.
The cause of the fire was apparently accidental, police said.
The man was found by police in the 200 block of West 72nd Street around 2:30 a.m.
Matt Mullady is known as a Kankakee River expert and former guide, but he has a very important artistic side, too.