Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
You do not need to have a law degree to know that shooting someone while on parole is a parole violation. Nonetheless, Kyle S. Carter was accused of this crime after a drug deal went sour at an Aldi grocery store on Chicago’s west side.
Carter has now been charged with first-degree murder, possession of more than 15 grams of cocaine, and armed robbery. If convicted, he will most likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.
What Happened?
Carter was scheduled for a bond hearing on Saturday afternoon in late March. The victim, Victor A. Cervantes, was shot around 5:30 p.m. later that day. A witness says that Cervantes was selling drugs out of a Jeep Cherokee with Carter and another man. The witness heard a sudden gunshot and then saw Cervantes fall out of the front passenger side of the vehicle. Carter and the other suspect allegedly fled on foot. Aldi immediately hit their alarm, calling police to the scene.
Cervantes was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead about 20 minutes later. Carter was caught minutes later along with the other man who was in the vehicle at the time. The police released the other man without giving his name. It is unlikely that he will face charges for this murder.
Carter, on the other hand, will face the brunt of the charges although the shooting is still under investigation.
How Will This Case be Prosecuted?
Police will use various methods to convict Carter of this crime. For one thing, they have witnesses who will testify on behalf of the state that they saw Carter in the Cherokee with Cervantes shortly before they heard shots ring out. Next, they will have video surveillance footage outside of the Aldi that they can use to pin Carter to the scene of the crime.
If the police have the weapon Carter used, they will attempt to show that Carter’s fingerprints were on the weapon and, failing that, they will use gunpowder residue to show that Carter had recently fired a gun.
Assuming that we can put Carter at the scene at the same time as the shooting, Carter has only one defense left available to him. That would be to pin the shooting on the other guy who was in the car at the same time. With both suspects pinning the blame on one another, the jury is left to decide if there is enough evidence to convict either man beyond a reasonable doubt. Otherwise, attorneys for Carter will be left to pick apart the prosecution’s case which has ample witness and forensic evidence to gain a conviction.
Talk to a Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney Today
If you are being charged with a serious crime in the Chicago area, then you need an experienced Chicago criminal defense attorney to handle your case. Call David Freidberg at (312) 560-7100 today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin preparing your defense immediately.
