Brookfield Man Was Fatally Shot Before He Could Testify, Police Say
(CBS) – A 33-year-old man was shot and killed in front of his Brookfield home 11 months ago was because he was supposed be a witness in a criminal case, police said Monday.
Three men are in custody and charged with the murder of Michael Smith, who had been a security guard at a South Side night club.
Investigators say Smith was working at Shrine Nightclub in March 2015 when a fight broke out involving Comfort Robinson.
The day Smith was set to testify, police say, Jermaine Douglas followed him to his Forest Avenue home and executed him. Chicago police arrested Douglas after he led them on a chase last week that ended in a crash.
A third suspect, DeJuyon Johnican, is accused of helping plan the hit on smith.
All are facing first-degree murder charges.
"Michael Smith was a good man, a model citizen and a hardworking family man who was killed in the prime of his life for doing his job," Brookfield Police Chief James Epicopo said at a news conference.
Smith was fatally shot outside his property last January, in broad daylight.
Chief Episcopo says Smith still had the subpoena to testify in his pocket when he was gunned down.
