ALLEGED GUARD KILLER CARRIED INTO COURT
A half- dozen sheriff ’s deputies carried Rashad Williams into a Markham Courthouse courtroom Wednesday, where the 24- year- old faced charges for allegedly gunning down security guard Tyrone Hardin in a Harvey rail yard.
Judge Darron E. Bowden ordered Williams out of the courtroom moments later after Williams muttered and shouted over the judge, claiming he had been abused by his jailers. Williams sank to his knees as the judge ordered him out of the courtroom, and the deputies dragged him out.
“Yeah, use them muscles,” Williams said loudly to the guards as they hauled him into the holding area. “I’m an innocent man. Yeah, go ahead and take me back and [ beat] me up.”
With Hardin’s family looking on from the gallery, Bowden ordered Williams held without bail Wednesday on charges of first- degree murder, attempted murder and vehicular hijacking.
Williams is accused of fatally shooting Hardin, a contract security guard working at the Canadian National Railway yard in Harvey, on Nov. 26.
Assistant State’s Attorney Thomas Driscoll said Williams, of East Hazel Crest, approached a woman at a gas station at the intersection of 159th and Halsted in Harvey as she was putting air in the tires of her 1978 Chevy Malibu. After complimenting her on the car, Williams climbed into the driver’s seat and when the owner tried to stop him, she saw a pair of handguns in Williams’ lap.
The woman followed Williams in another car and called police. Harvey Police gave chase as Williams sped off, striking another car at 159th and Park before hitting a viaduct, and running away, Driscoll said.
Williams ran onto a Canadian National Railway yard, where he opened fire on Hardin, shooting the 38- year- old married father in the abdomen, then stealing Hardin’s truck, Driscoll said. Williams then opened fire on another CN guard as he made his escape. Hardin’s truck was found abandoned in East Hazel Crest.
Williams’ court- appointed attorney asked Bowden to order a mental health exam for Williams. The judge refused.
Driscoll said that Williams had three prior convictions for weapons offenses before his latest arrest and was on parole for a 2014 conviction for aggravated use of a weapon.