Man denies role in Waukegan carjacking murder

One of two men accused of killing a Waukegan man while stealing his nephew's car pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Lake County circuit court.

Kerwin Murry, 22, is charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and aggravated discharge of a firearm in the Dec. 29 death of Carlos Hernandez, 44.

Assistant State's Attorney Tim Niehus said Murry, of Waukegan, Fredrick Smith, 23, of Harvey and a third man who was not charged, were walking around 6 a.m. near Hernandez's residence in the 400 block of Hickory Street.

Hernandez's nephew had arrived at the residence a few minutes before the trio walked up, Niehus said, and had left his 2003 Cadillac STS running at the curb.

Murry and Smith confronted Hernandez when he walked up to the car and Murry fired two shots from a revolver that struck Hernandez in the abdomen and left shoulder.

Hernandez was able to describe his attackers before dying on the way to the hospital, and police located the car abandoned several blocks from the shooting.

Police canine units tracked the pair to the Lakeside Towers apartment complex in the 200 block of Julian Street and the building was locked-down while officers searched floor to floor.

Murry was located in an apartment in the building while in the process of shaving his head, Niehus said. Smith was found hiding in the building's ventilation system.

Police said they found the gun believed to have been used in the shooting in a garbage can outside the apartment complex.

Both men are held on $5 million bail and face 45 years to life in prison if convicted.

Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak scheduled a trial of the case for March 12 and ordered Murry to appear in court Feb. 14.

Smith is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 2.