Man charged in shooting deaths of friend, foe in West Pullman

A Far South Side man faces murder charges in the deaths of his friend and a rival after a deadly shootout over an allegedly stolen gun.

Meanwhile, Rodney Harbin’s attorney argued that the incident on Sept. 21 in West Pullman was a case of self-defense.

Harbin killed Miguel Williams near the parking lot of Halsted Bowl, Cook County prosecutors said.

While pointing a gun at the driver of an SUV, Harbin demanded the driver to give up the vehicle in his exchange for the weapon he accused Williams of taking, Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini said.

Harbin, 34, asked his friend Donald Brunson to open the SUV door, Santini said. That’s when Williams started shooting from inside the SUV and killed 28-year-old Brunson, Santini said.

Harbin then fired into the SUV at Williams, 34, and two others, Santini said.

Harbin walked toward the back of the SUV and fired a second volley of bullets, Santini said. Williams was shot once.

The people in the SUV drove off and eventually flagged down a squad car, Santini said. Williams was taken to an area hospital where he died.

Brunson died at the scene, where police recovered 17 shell casings, Santini said.

Before the shooting, Williams and his friends and Harbin, Brunson and their friends were at the bowling alley, 12345 S. Halsted, Santini said.

Harbin got into an argument with Williams’ friends outside over a gun he believed Williams took, Santini said. After Williams and his friends got into an SUV, Harbin allegedly came back several minutes later armed with a gun.

Several witnesses identified Harbin as Williams’ shooter, Santini said. Harbin, of the 500 block of West 116th, turned himself in to police on Tuesday.

Judge Maria Kuriakos-Ciesil asked Santini several questions in court about the allegations but concluded that Harbin is a “danger to himself and society.”

Harbin was charged with murder for the deaths of Williams and Brunson and vehicular hijacking. He was ordered held without bail.