Man charged with murdering romantic rival in West Town

A 43-year-old man has been charged with gunning down a romantic rival in West Town.

Kevin Gentry killed 24-year-old Courtney Macon on April 3 shortly after he saw Macon with his former girlfriend, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney James Murphy said.

Macon fathered two children with the woman and had an on-and-off relationship with her, Murphy said.

On the night of the shooting, Macon and the woman went to her cousin’s house to pick up food and saw Gentry, who had dated the woman “many years ago,” standing outside, Murphy said.

Chicago police

The two men “did not get along due to their mutual affection” for the woman and had previously gotten into arguments about Macon’s relationship with her, Murphy said. The two men allegedly exchanged words that night as well.

Macon and the woman were walking up to her uncle’s nearby house a short time later when the woman heard a gunshot and saw Macon running down the street, Murphy said. The woman turned around and allegedly saw Gentry holding a gun about 10 feet away before he also ran away.

The woman ran off after Macon and found him lying on the ground in the 2000 block of West Maypole Avenue with a gunshot wound to the left side of his torso, Murphy said. Macon was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he later died.

Cellphone records show Gentry called the woman before the shooting and that he was in the area when the shots were fired, Murphy said.

Gentry has previous convictions for aggravated battery, burglary and possession of a controlled substance, Murphy said.

Gentry works on and off as a maintenance man, an assistant public defender told Judge Susana Ortiz.

Ortiz ordered Gentry held without bail and set his next court appearance for June 16.