Broadway Christmas Shopper’s Killer Captured: Cops

JOLIET, IL — Police say they have captured a killer who gunned down a Joliet man on his way home from last minute Christmas shopping.

Toddrick Pinnick, 23, was taken into custody in the parking lot of a Crest Hill Domino’s Pizza Friday afternoon.

Pinnick was in the passenger seat of a white Saturn and had a handgun at his feet on the floor, police said. The handgun reportedly matched the caliber of the weapon that killed 24-year-old Brian Byrd two days before Christmas. Ballistics tests will be performed to see if it is the same firearm.

Byrd was shot in the head as he drove down Broadway near Ingalls Avenue the afternoon of Dec. 23. Byrd’s aunt Samone Meadows said he was on his way home after Christmas shopping.

“Whoever did this, they deserve to be punished,” Meadows said of her nephew’s killer.

Byrd and Pinnick had been feuding for more than a year, police said. It was not clear what was at the root of the dispute.

Detectives linked Pinnick to the killing after gathering and poring over surveillance video from cameras mounted along Broadway its side streets, police said. The video reportedly showed a Jeep Cherokee connected to Pinnick that was involved in the gun attack.

On Thursday, the cops obtained a warrant for Pinnick’s arrest. The murder warrant carries a $10 million bond. On Friday, the law reportedly learned Pinnick was riding around in the Saturn near the Louis mall, then tracked him down at the Domino’s.

Two backseat passengers — Cherish Mercer, 20, and Deonta Moore, 24 — were also taken into custody. Police said they found four grams of crack in the back with Mercer and Moore. They were charged with the possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and taken to the Will County jail.

The unidentified driver was released without charge.

image via Will County Sheriff's Department