No bail for man held in mall shooting
Williams charged with weapons offense in Orland Square incident
Saying his release would be a “real and present threat” to the community, a Cook County Circuit Court judge on Friday ordered a man charged in connection with a fatal shooting at Orland Square Mall to be held without bail.
For now, Jakharr Williams, arrested two days after Monday’s shooting at the Orland Park mall, is charged only with unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
Javon Britten, 18, of Richton Park, was shot to death during a confrontation at the mall. Britten was a senior at Rich Central High School, and Williams, of University Park, also previously attended the school, a Cook County prosecutor and Williams’ attorney said during Friday’s initial court hearing for Williams.
In asking that Williams be held without bail, Assistant State’s Attorney Cheryl Galvin called him a “danger to society.” Williams’ next court appearance is Feb. 8.
Family members of Britten were in the courtroom, and following the hearing gathered outside as Eric Russell, acting as spokesman for the family, told reporters they “remain in excruciating pain” and are making funeral arrangements for Britten, who was known as Von.
“We have a very private grief,” Russell, president of Tree of Life Justice League Illinois, said. “The heartache is still very fresh with us.
Family members spoke privately with prosecutors after the hearing, and as far as the possibility of additional and more serious charges, Russell said “we’re going to let everything take its course.”
An attorney representing Williams at the hearing, Jose Zamora, told reporters afterward that “it is a tragic case,” and that Williams’ family “does express its condolences” to Britten’s family.
Zamora said he was representing Williams only for the initial bail hearing. Another attorney, David Sotomayor, will represent him as the case proceeds, he said.
Police had obtained a warrant for Williams, who was arrested Monday inMatteson.
Although the warrant carried the charge of homicide, the weapons possession charge was the only charge approved by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office, police said. A message left Friday with the office seekingcommentwas not immediately returned.
After hearing Galvin describe a confrontation in whichWilliams is alleged to have fired multiple times in Britten’s direction, Circuit Judge JohnMahoney asked why the single charge was pending against him.
The “victimwas shot and is dead?” Mahoney asked Galvin.
Galvin responded that for now the weapon charge is whatWilliams is facing.
According to Illinois Department of Corrections records, Williams was on parole as of last June following a robbery conviction, with his paroleduetoendinJune 2020.
Galvin said thatWilliams also had a prior felony conviction in Will County for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Galvin left the courtroom immediately after case.
Orland Park police said after announcing Friday the charge against Williams that they were continuing their investigation into the shooting, which happened near the mall’s food court. Britten suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Britten, according to his uncle, had been at the mall with his older cousin/ adopted brother.
Zamora said during the hearing thatWilliams graduated from Rich Central in 2017 and is expecting to become a father in July. The attorney saidWilliams lives in University Park with his sister.
He had asked the judge to set bail at $100,000, with $10,000 posted as bond.