20-Year-Old Chicago Man Charged In Austin Fatal Shootout: Foxx

CHICAGO — Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has charged a 20-year-old man in connection with a shootout that took place in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood last fall.

Thomas Dean has been charged with three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, which Foxx said Thursday was a machine gun. Dean has been charged with a Class X felony which carries a sentence of 6-30 years for each count.

Foxx said that the matter remains under investigation and anticipates further charges being brought against Dean. Foxx said that her office has been granted a search warrant for another suspect. Dean is scheduled to appear in bond court on Friday, Foxx said.

Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said at a news conference on Thursday that Dean was arrested in the 2800 block of West Monroe St. The arrest stems from an Oct. 1 shootout in which occupants in two vehicles started shooting at a resident.

Occupants from the house returned fire and one person was shot and killed in the street, Brown said. Dean was injured in the incident and was treated at a hospital. Brown said that weapons were later found in a vehicle and linked to Dean through DNA evidence.

“There was no rhyme or reason for a gunfight in broad daylight,” Brown said. “Residents expect better. No resident should be faced with that kind of terror.”

Foxx said that charges were only brought on Thursday after more evidence in connection with the shootout was presented.

Chicago Mayor Lightfoot appeared at Thursday’s news conference along with Brown and Foxx on a day the mayor said was accountability and a “moment of reckoning.”

“If criminals think they can shoot up neighborhoods without any regard for the sanctity of life we will be relentless in holding you accountable,” Lightfoot said. “No matter how long it takes, no matter the odds or obstacles, we will hold you accountable.”

Despite prior conflict with Foxx, Lightfoot said Thursday she is standing in unity with the State’s Attorney to bring peace to neighborhoods. She said the common enemies of leaders remain guns, gangs and poverty and said that leaders must continue to “strike hard blows” against them on a daily basis.

Foxx said that charges against Dean would be bring where appropriate. Foxx said that more specifics of the case would be presented in Friday’s bond hearing. She said that more evidence was presented recently, which made it possible for Thursday’s charges to be brought against Dean.

Lightfoot cited very high emotions at the time of the shootout, which she described as something straight out of Wild West movie. She said leaders were appalled at what they saw which heightened emotions that sparked a controversy over a lack of charges being brought against a suspect at time.

“Ultimately, the State’s Attorney makes the decision about what the charges are,” the mayor said, adding that Foxx needed time to make charges stick. “…We’re not going to agree on every issue. This isn’t some false show of unity. But as I said and as I believe, our unity comes from our individual and collective commitment to do everything possible to both prevent crimes from happening…but when they do happen, to be relentless in bringing the perpetrators of the crime to justice.”