A Chicago judge rejected the bond plea from the man accused of shooting and killing a 71-year-old Asian man near a school in Chinatown in broad daylight on Tuesday.
Alphonso Joyner, 23, appeared in court Thursday after he allegedly fired 20 times at Woom Sing Tse as he walked past John C. Haines Elementary School. The school entered a lockdown after the first shots were fired.
Police charged Joyner with first-degree murder.
Picture of Alphonso Joyner (Credit: Chicago Police Department)
((Credit: Chicago Police Department))
Judge Maryam Ahmad cited “overwhelming” evidence as she denied any bail for Joyner, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Ahmad referred to the shooting as an “execution.”
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Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said his team could not provide a motive for the shooting, only offering that “sometimes individuals just do evil things.”
FILE PHOTO: Chicago’s Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during a science initiative event at the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. July 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski/File Photo
Surveillance footage shows the suspect drive up alongside Woom at around 12:30 p.m. and opening fire. He then got out of the car and continued to shoot at the victim before returning to his vehicle and driving away.
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Medical professionals tried to treat Woom’s wounds at a local hospital but ultimately pronounced him dead.
Chicago Police Supt. David Brown during a press conference. (WFLD)
(WFLD)
Police obtained Joyner’s plate number and used multiple cameras to track down his vehicle. Police found a gun inside the vehicle that they matched to 9mm shell casings recovered from the scene.
Joyner refused to talk to investigators, but police confirmed during a press conference Wednesday that he had at least four prior charges, including two gun charges.
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Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan told reporters that police will investigate any possible connection between Joyner and a number of unresolved shootings in other parts of the city.
“Detectives from the North Side have already reached out to these detectives, and we’re comparing everything we possibly can from those cases to this case or any other case that may appear to a random act of violence,” Deenihan said.
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office responded with “no comment” to Fox News on whether police will treat the shooting as a hate crime. The Chicago Police Department referred to the press conference in response to any questions.
Fox News’ Emma Colton and Adam Sabes contributed to this report.