Man charged with attempted murder while on bond in gun case: prosecutors

A man awaiting trial in an earlier gun case now also faces an attempted murder charge after he allegedly shot his neighbor’s brother multiple times in Englewood while out on bond.

Vertis Peterson, 26, appeared for a bail hearing Thursday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building where Judge Charles Beach revoked his bond in the earlier case and ordered Peterson held without bail on a charge of attempted first-degree murder.

Court records show Peterson posted $200 bond and was released from custody Oct. 9 after being charged with a felony count of possession of a weapon and a misdemeanor count of marijuana possession.

On Nov. 9, Peterson was standing on the porch of his grandmother’s home in the 7100 block of South May Street when he got into an argument with a 63-year-old man who was walking to his brother’s home in the block, Assistant State’s Attorney Meredith Rudolfi said.

Peterson walked up to the older man and pulled out a .22-caliber revolver, firing it six times and striking the man in the arm, hip and abdomen, Rudolfi said.

Peterson “continued to squeeze the trigger” after emptying the revolver and then tried to return to his grandmother’s home, but was turned away, Rudolfi said.

The 63-year-old was rushed to University of Chicago Medical Center, where he underwent surgery, according to prosecutors and Chicago police. On Nov. 10, he identified Peterson in a photo array.

Peterson was taken into custody Wednesday when he appeared at an unrelated court hearing, according to court records. Prosecutors said he had two prior convictions, both for misdemeanor counts of domestic battery.

Radiance Ward, an assistant public defender for Peterson, said Peterson wasn’t currently employed, but had graduated high school and had strong family ties to the area, including five children between the ages of 1 and 7.

Judge Charles Beach revoked Peterson’s bond in the earlier case and ordered him held without bail on the latest charge. Peterson was next scheduled to appear in court Monday for a hearing in the October gun case.