Man accused of opening fire in Lake Co. restaurant pleads not guilty
The man police say opened fire in a crowded restaurant during a botched robbery pleaded not guilty Thursday in Lake County Circuit Court.
Charles Knight, 45, faces a maximum of 195 years in prison if convicted of all charges against him in the Dec. 9, 2007 shooting at The Silo, 625 Rockland Road, near Lake Bluff.
Assistant State's Attorney Ari Fisz said Knight, formerly of Chicago, was one of three men who conspired to rob the restaurant and its patrons.
Knight and Kennedy Banks, 47, also of Chicago, entered the restaurant as diners and had pizza and some drinks.
Edward Jackson, 39, a Silo employee from Chicago who police say set up the robbery, was seated at the bar when Knight and Banks announced their intentions.
Knight and Banks were herding the customers toward the rear of the restaurant when a male hostage broke from the group and ran for the door.
Police say Knight fired one shot from his .40 caliber pistol and the bullet passed through the right arm of a 27-year-old male employee and lodged in the abdomen of a 31-year-old male employee.
Jackson was arrested about a month after the shooting and has pleaded not guilty to aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm and burglary.
Banks was arrested in December and has pleaded not guilty to aggravated battery with a firearm and armed violence.
Knight was found hiding in a house in Ft. Wayne, Ind., in November and is charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, being an armed habitual criminal, aggravated discharge of a weapon, burglary and armed violence.
Knight, who records show has been sentenced to a total of 22 years in prison for convictions in Cook and Winnebago counties, is also wanted in Rockford in connection with a shootout between drug dealers that left one man dead.
Circuit Judge Fred Foreman scheduled a trial of the case for March 30 and ordered Knight to return to court Feb. 10.
Jackson is due in court Feb. 17 and Banks is scheduled to appear Feb. 20.