Murder

May 7, 2021

Man With Adam Toledo Facing Charges

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Adam Toledo is among the latest victims of police violence, but bodycam footage shows the officer making a split-second decision as Toledo turned around. Toledo had deposited the gun behind a fence and was no longer holding it when the officer discharged his weapon. He had put his hands up, and in the heat of the moment, the officer shot him. The officer involved in the shooting will not face any charges related to Toledo’s death. The same cannot be said for the 21-year-old, Ruben Roman, who allegedly gave Toledo the gun.

What Police Think Happened

Roman and Toledo were together. Roman was discharging his weapon. The sound startled nearby residents, who called the police. Roman knew that the police were coming, so he gave the weapon to a 13-year-old who would not face charges. Roman had already faced weapons charges and was on gun probation at the time of the incident. So that is how the 13-year-old ended up with the weapon. The 13-year-old is running around with the weapon, police order him to drop it and put his hands up, and even though he complies, they shoot. Toledo dies.

May 5, 2021

Man Faces Four Counts of Attempted Murder After Driving Into Picnickers

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A Chicago man who drove his pickup truck into picnickers is facing four counts of attempted murder. The man struck two people in a group of 10—people who he dubbed, “yuppies with dogs.”

Prosecutors said that 10 people were celebrating a birthday when Timothy Nielsen complained about their dogs. Members of their group asked the man to leave, but that is when he threw his truck in reverse and struck them. One woman was briefly trapped underneath the truck and was sent to the hospital with serious injuries. Another victim was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

The Defendant

April 21, 2021

Adam Toledo: A Lot to Unpack

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

For those of you who have not followed the story, Adam Toledo was a 13-year-old person of color who was shot dead by police officer Eric Stillman. Police received a call of weapons fire and they responded. Toledo and an older boy were allegedly firing into vehicles with loaded weapons. The cops responded, they caught up with Toledo on foot. The police officer was running with his weapon drawn when Toledo dumped his weapon and turned around with his hands up. The officer, not knowing whether or not Toledo was turning to shoot or to surrender, fired on the spot, killing Toledo. Should the officer be held accountable for this crime?

Where do We Lay the Blame?

Already, lines are beginning to form. On the one side, you have people blaming the police officer for using cowboy tactics to contain the situation. Others blame the 13-year-old, his parents, or the older boy who was with him at the time, Ruben Roman, who put the gun in his hands. Roman will face charges for putting the gun into the hands of the 13-year-old. But police-reform advocates believe that police are scapegoating Roman for their own mistake. Could it be that they are actually all right?

April 16, 2021

16-Year-Old Charged With Murder During Crime Spree

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A 16-year-old who was recently released from juvenile detention will face charges as an adult for murdering 53-year-old Guillermo Antonio Quiles. This will be the second teen to face charges related to Quiles’s death.

Ricmeal King Bolden had just been released from a juvenile detention facility for a weapons charge and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Presenting the Defendant in the Best Possible Way

April 2, 2021

Man Faces Charges of Firing Gun at Wife’s Male Friend

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A Hammond man is facing charges that he fired five shots from a semi-automatic pistol at his wife’s friend. Ramiro Malagon, 34, is now facing charges of attempted murder and battery with a deadly weapon resulting in serious bodily injury. Malagon’s wife told police that they had been married for 14 years, but over the past few months, they had grown estranged and did not interact much.

The wife said she was driving her friend back home when Malagon pulled up alongside her on the road. When the wife recognized that she was being followed by her husband, she pulled a U-turn and dropped him off at a liquor store. The friend said he did not want to be involved with their domestic problems. The man was walking from the lot when Malagon pulled up alongside him and demanded that he stop. He then fired five bullets at the man.

The victim was struck twice, once in the thigh and again in the back. The victim took cover behind a dumpster and eventually, Malagon gave up and drove off.

February 26, 2021

Man Charged With Attempted Murder of Good Samaritan

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Chicago police say that Diamontae Lee Kellum had just gotten through choking his girlfriend when another man approached her to render aid. Kellum became irate with the man, threw a bicycle at his head, and beat him unconscious, according to police. Kellum has been charged with several felonies, including attempted murder.

Police were called to the scene at around 8:00 pm when they found a man unconscious in the street. The victim had a large laceration on his head. He was treated at the hospital for a brain bleed and told police he could notremember what happened.

Why You Should Not be a Hero

February 24, 2021

Man Who Thwarted Burglary Attempt is Charged with Murder

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A 33-year-old man has been charged with murder after thwarting an attempted burglary on his vehicle. The assailant, Lazaro Vaquez was reportedly cruising with his girlfriend to find someone to rob. He crossed paths with Adam Woods, who was not having it.

Video surveillance shows Vazquez approaching the car, but then appearing startled as Woods exited with a gun. Vazquez could be seen turning around and running. It was then that Woods fired four shots into Vazquez’s back, killing him.

Is This a Legitimate Murder Charge?

February 19, 2021

Chicago Man Faces Murder Charges in Shooting Death of 18-Year-Old

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A Chicago Heights man has been charged with the death of 18-year-old Jacquise Baylock. The 18-year-old was fatally shot near a boys and girls club. 25-year-old Jason Hinton is the second man to face charges for the death of Baylock. LaQuan Tolliver is also named in an indictment and there may be as many as two other men who are believed to be involved in the shooting, although their names have not been released by police.

Police say that a woman confessed on behalf of all the men involved. She told police that she had lured Baylock to her residences where Tolliver, Hinton, and others lied in wait for an ambush. When Baylock got there, the men killed and robbed him.

Love Triangle Gone Wrong?

September 25, 2020

Grand Jury Indicts One of Three of Breonna Taylor’s Killers

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A day after one of the officers wrote an unhinged email expressing his contempt for anyone who might take issue with the fact that an innocent woman who worked saving lives and had no criminal record was senselessly murdered as she slept in her apartment, a grand jury is recommending charges against Brett Hankinson, the only officer who was relieved of duty.

Hankinson was scape-goated for wantonly firing rounds into Breonna Taylor’s residence, but it is not apparent that he did anything differently from the other officers. Neither does the grand jury’s recommendation address how easily police were able to get a warrant against Taylor without any material evidence of wrongdoing. Louisville has made “no-knock” warrants illegal even as police say they announced themselves prior to entry. Police believed Taylor was guilty of drug trafficking due to an association with an ex-boyfriend.

The City of Louisville announced they would be settling the Taylor family’s wrongful death lawsuit against the city for $12 million.

September 11, 2020

Analyzing Kyle Rittenhouse’s Defense Strategy

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

There is a lot of misinformation out there concerning Kyle Rittenhouse and the prospects of a conviction. The political lines are being drawn, with the left suddenly playing the role of prosecutor in an apparent role switch. The right, for reasons that ought to shock and appall, is rallying around Rittenhouse. So what is the deal?

What Law Did Rittenhouse Break?

Matters such as self-defense are questions that a jury will answer. They will determine, in accord with Wisconsin law, whether or not Rittenhouse is guilty of first-degree intentional murder, first-degree reckless homicide, and reckless endangerment.