A Markham man on electronic monitoring awaiting trial in a 2017 homicide in Country Club Hills has been charged in connection with a Jan. 31 shooting outside an AutoZone store in Dolton, according to Cook County sheriff’s police.
Torrey Lewis, 30, who is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, is one of four people wounded in the exchange of gunfire between occupants of two vehicles in Dolton, according to police.
A second Markham man, Maurice McKinnis, also is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and is being held at Cook County Jail, according to police.
Lewis has been on electronic monitoring pending trial on charges of murder, attempted carjacking and armed robbery in connection with the July 2017 shooting of Timothy Horace, a disabled man from Blue Island, outside a Country Club Hills movie theater.
However, Lewis had more unfettered movement due to a provision in the Illinois SAFE-T Act that grants some free time each week to those on electronic monitoring, according to sheriff’s police. Prosecutors were in court Thursday seeking to have Lewis, who remains hospitalized, detained pending trial.
At about 10 a.m. Jan. 31, Dolton police responded to reports of shots being fired in the parking lot of the auto parts store in the 1100 block of Sibley Boulevard.
Police found Lewis in the driver’s seat of a Nissan Maxima with multiple gunshot wounds, according to sheriff’s police. A rifle and a handgun were found in the front passenger area, but it was not clear whether Lewis had fired any shots.
Police had reported witnesses as saying occupants of two vehicles exchanged gunfire during the skirmish.
The unlawful use of firearms charge is because guns were found in the vehicle, which would have been a violation of the terms of Lewis’ pre-trial release, according to sheriff’s police.
A second man in the back seat of the Maxima, identified as McKinnis, had also suffered gunshot wounds, and officers also located two other men outside the vehicle with gunshot wounds, sheriff’s police said.
The investigation determined the Maxima in which Lewis and McKinnis were found was reported stolen out of Chicago in December.
Sheriff’s police said Lewis essentially fell off the electronic monitoring program because he was on state-mandated free movement at the time.
Since the SAFE-T Act took effect, all individuals court-ordered to the electronic monitoring programs are automatically granted free movement two days per week in order to conduct essential tasks such as grocery shopping, job interviews, attending religious services or obtaining medical or mental health treatment, according to sheriff’s police.
While on free movement, the sheriff’s office cannot monitor and individual’s movements, although those on monitoring have to stay within Cook County, according to sheriff’s police.
Police said a review of Lewis’ GPS device history showed Lewis left his home at about 8:48 a.m. Jan. 31 and proceeded to travel at high rates of speed throughout the south suburbs, at times reaching speeds of over 100 mph, until he arrived at the scene of the shooting.
Police said there is no evidence Lewis was attempting to do his laundry, shop for groceries or attend religious services during his high-speed travels.
Lewis had been arrested and charged in September 2018 in the Country Club Hills shooting, which occurred July 17, 2017.
Police at the time said Horace had just gotten out of his car and was sitting in his wheelchair about 4:40 p.m. outside the Marcus Cinema in the 4200 block of West 167th Street. At that point, a man appeared from between parked cars and shot him in his chest and upper thigh.
Horace, 31, was pronounced dead at 5:16 p.m. at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, officials said. Horace had been in the parking lot with his girlfriend and a child.
After the shooting, Country Club Hills officers said they pursued a vehicle containing four people who they believed were involved in the shooting. But police said they lost track of the vehicle around 152nd Street in Harvey, officials said.
Sheriff’s police said Lewis was initially ordered held in custody without bail at Cook County Jail. In May 2020, his bond was reduced, and after posting the required $30,000 was released on electronic monitoring, sheriff’s police said.
