31-year-old man charged with fatal Austin shooting

A 31-year-old Chicago man charged with fatally shooting another man in an Austin neighborhood home last week was denied bail at a court appearance Sunday.

George Jernigan faces a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Anthony Collins on Nov. 19, according to Chicago Police.

Collins was playing video games about 1:30 p.m. inside the enclosed front porch of a home in the 1600 block of North Mango when Jernigan walked in unannounced, prosecutors said.

Jernigan made small talk with Collins and others at the home, before he pulled out a 9mm handgun and began to wave it around, prosecutors said. He pointed the gun at Collins’ chest and pulled the trigger.

The gun did not fire, and Jernigan racked the slide and put the gun back into his hoodie pocket, prosecutors said. Jernigan said he wanted to talk outside with Collins, who refused to go with him. Jernigan began to insist Collins owed him money and demanded he pay him back.

Jernigan pulled the gun back out, pointed it at Collins again and pulled the trigger, striking him in the groin, prosecutors said. After shooting Collins, Jernigan stood over him as he moaned in pain and yelled “Why did you make me do that?” and “Get up.” He then left the house, got in his car and drove off.

Collins, of Maywood, was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood by paramedics, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Police initially reported the shooting was accidental.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office ruled Collins died of a single gunshot wound and ruled his death a homicide.

A 9mm shell casing was recovered from the front porch and multiple witnesses identified Jernigan as the shooter, prosecutors said. Jernigan was taken into custody Friday and admitted to the shooting in a videotaped statement.

Jernigan, of the Galewood neighborhood, was denied bail at a court appearance Sunday, according to Cook County Sheriff’s Office records. He was scheduled to return to court Dec. 15