Argument over pot quality led to fatal shooting during street deal in Harvey: prosecutors

A 20-year-old man was denied bail Sunday after he allegedly shot and killed another man following an argument over the quality of the weed he was attempting to sell during a street deal in south suburban Harvey.

Nicholas Robertson was charged with first-degree murder in the Dec. 27, 2019, shooting in the 14600 block of Loomis Avenue. The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified the victim as 22-year-old Tyrez Stefan Plummer, though prosecutors stated that he was 23 during Sunday’s court hearing.

Prosecutors said Plummer and another person drove to that area to purchase marijuana from Robertson, who exited a home and joined them in their vehicle when they arrived. After Plummer and Robertson began arguing, prosecutors said Robertson went back into the home to grab some weed.

After Robertson returned to the vehicle, the two continued to argue about the quality of the cannabis, prosecutors said. That’s when Robertson allegedly pulled out a handgun, cocked it and pointed the weapon at Plummer.

Plummer and the other person then fled from the vehicle and tried to run off, prosecutors said. After a single gunshot rang out, the other person saw Plummer fall to the ground. As that individual crouched behind a parked car, two more gunshots rang out and another vehicle was struck by the gunfire.

Robertson then ordered the witness to drive him to an apartment in nearby Riverdale, according to prosecutors. Meanwhile, a second witness called 911 after seeing Plummer collapsed in the street, prosecutors said.

He was rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead less than an hour later, according to prosecutors and the medical examiner’s office. The medical examiner’s office reported he died from a gunshot wound to the torso, though prosecutors said he was shot in the back.

A witness later identified Robertson by his nickname and singled him out in a photo lineup, according to prosecutors, who said Robertson made a videotaped confession.

While Robertson has no prior criminal record as an adult, prosecutors noted that he was arrested twice as a juvenile. The resulting charges included battery, domestic battery and unlawful use of a weapon.

Robertson’s public defender told Judge David Navarro that her client is expecting twins and currently works as a chef at a downtown hotel. The public defender also claimed he has volunteered at a homeless shelter and applied for an architecture program at Purdue University in Indiana.

“It’s almost as if I have two different people before me,” Navarro responded, noting the dissonance between the charges lodged against him and the mitigating evidence offered by his attorney.

Navarro then ordered Robertson held without bail. His next court date was set for Tuesday.