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Suspect Held On $500,000 Bond In Lake Shore Drive Pedestrian Death

(CBS) -- An 18-year-old Chicago man charged in connection with an attempted armed robbery that led to the death of a pedestrian on Lake Shore Drive was ordered held on $500,000 bond Saturday.

Semaj Waters' supporters showed up at court and insisted he is innocent.

"It's not starting off to be a fair fight," Jerry Brown, Waters' father, told reporters after a bond hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building.

Waters is among several people police interviewed following the death of Pamela Johnson, 32, last weekend. A mob of young people allegedly tried to rob Johnson and her boyfriend near the Gold Coast. When the couple ran into traffic, Johnson was fatally struck by a vehicle.

Pamela Johnson
(Photo supplied to CBS)

Brown said his son waited for an ambulance for 30 minutes after the woman was struck.

Authorities, however, say he was central to the attempted robbery. He is charged with attempted armed robbery, mob action, and felony murder.

Waters' criminal defense attorney, Scott Gordon, says there were 10 other people with his client the night of Johnson's death, in addition to another group of young people.

"It's a very tragic case, but it was certainly an accident," Gordon said. "It was a very convoluted situation -- a lot of people involved."

Community activist Andrew Holmes says it's up to the courts to sort out what happened last weekend.

Sources tell CBS 2 police are talking with several other individuals.

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