Bond set at $5 million for two charged in fatal Waukegan carjacking

A Lake County judge set bond at $5 million Saturday for each of the two men charged with murder following a carjacking and manhunt in Waukegan.

Fredrick T. Smith, 23, of Harvey, and Kerwin P. Murry, 22, of Waukegan are each charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm. They must post $500,000 to be released.

The men, who said little at their bond hearing, told Judge John Scully that they do not have jobs. Murry is a father-to-be, his pregnant girlfriend said after the bond hearing. Murry’s mother was also in court.

Smith and Murry were arrested after a manhunt Thursday at the Lakeside Towers apartment complex, a low-income high rise several blocks from where authorities say the men took a 2003 Cadillac STS that belonged to the nephew of Carlos Hernandez, 44.

Hernandez’s nephew, Juan Uriostegui, says he pulled up to his uncle’s home on the 400 block of Hickory Street at about 6 a.m. He left the car running when he went inside the home.

Smith, Murry and a third man, who was not charged, were walking to a nearby gas station when they saw the running car, authorities said. They fought with Hernandez and pushed him into the running vehicle and drove a couple of blocks, authorities said.

Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Humke said Saturday that witnesses reported that Smith held a revolver and patted Hernandez down, searching for weapons. Murry then asked for the gun and two or three shots were fired, hitting Hernandez in the stomach and left shoulder, Humke said.

Hernandez was able to speak with police and describe the offenders before he died on the way to the hospital.

With the assistance of a canine unit, Murry and Smith were tracked to the low-income apartment complex where Smith was found hiding in the ventilation system and Murry had attempted to shave his head, police said.

Humke said Murry admitted to the robbery, adding that he also had Hernandez’s cellphone.

Witnesses told police they heard Smith and Murry discussing a “lick,” meaning a robbery, Humke said in court.

The revolver was found in the garbage shoot at the apartment complex, he said.

Both men have extensive criminal backgrounds, Humke said. Murry is on parole for an aggravated robbery case in Cook County. Smith is currently on bond in Cook County for a pending aggravated battery with a firearm charge, he said.