2nd brother charged with fatal shooting after fight over woman at Austin party

A second brother has been charged with the fatal shooting of a man who was defending his girlfriend last October from inappropriate advances at a party in the West Side Austin neighborhood.

Charles Thorne, 27, pulled the trigger in the Oct. 10, 2015, attack in the 1100 block of North Lawler, according to Chicago Police and Cook County prosecutors. His brother, 34-year-old Antoine Thorne, was charged with murder in December.

The brothers were at a birthday party in an apartment when Antoine Thorne inappropriately grabbed the girlfriend of 33-year-old Alston McNeal, prosecutors said at Antoine Thorne’s bond hearing in December.

The two argued briefly before McNeal walked away. He was standing at the front door on his way out when Antoine Thorne charged at him with a gun, prosecutors said. They wrestled for the weapon, which went off without striking anyone.

Antoine Thorne | Chicago Police

During the struggle, Charles Thorne walked up and fired a single shot into McNeal’s head at about 3:20 a.m., prosecutors said.

McNeal, who lived on the same block as the party, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:10 a.m., authorities said.

Thorne and his brother ran away, prosecutors said. They were identified by multiple people who were at the party and saw the shooting.

Charles Thorne was arrested Thursday and ordered held on a $1.5 million bond, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office. He is due back in court March 9.

Antoine Thorne is being held on an $800,000 bond and has a status hearing March 4.