Man killed weed dealer over product he fronted to him: prosecutors

A second man has been charged with gunning down a marijuana dealer earlier this year in West Garfield Park after the dealer repeatedly ducked his calls, according to Cook County prosecutors.

Dwayne Mason, 25, was denied bail Thursday by Judge Arthur Wesley Willis when he appeared for a hearing on a charge of first-degree murder in the Jan. 22 shooting of Jonathan Robinson.

A week before the murder, Mason met with Robinson and gave him “a large bag of cannabis” to sell, Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin DeBoni said.

Robinson felt the quality of the marijuana was low and decided not to sell the product to “protect his reputation as a drug dealer,” according to DeBoni.

But Robinson, 51, didn’t return the marijuana and started avoiding Mason’s phone calls, DeBoni said.

On the day of the shooting, Mason was picked up in a Land Rover by 41-year-old Toma Del Real, a fellow member of the Latin King’s street gang, DeBoni said. The pair then allegedly drove to an area where they knew Robinson sold drugs.

Surveillance cameras recorded the two men as they drove around the neighborhood looking for Robinson, DeBoni said.

Chicago police

About 1:30 p.m., Robinson was at a friend’s house when he was called by an associate who told him a customer was outside. Robinson and his friend then drove a van to the 3900 block of West Van Buren Street.

Del Real and Mason watched from a parking lot as Robinson turned onto Van Buren and then they sped down an alley to come out on the other side to block Robinson in, DeBoni said surveillance footage showed.

Mason demanded the marijuana be returned or for Robinson to pay him for it, leading Robinson to hand over an unknown amount of money, DeBoni said.

After Del Real got back inside the Land Rover, Mason allegedly shot Robinson two times.

Robinson tried to drive away and was shot twice more in the back but managed to drive to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died, authorities said.

Robinson’s friend at first told police a false story at the hospital but later identified Mason as the shooter, DeBoni said.

Del Real was charged with Robinson’s murder in March and ordered held without bail, court records show.

Mason was arrested Wednesday, prosecutors said.

“Obviously there are going to be some massive credibility issues,” Mason’s defense attorney said of the prosecutors’ witnesses, noting Robinson’s friend first lied to police.

Mason was most recently working for a moving company, the attorney said.

Mason was next expected in court on April 28.

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