Two suburban men arrested in connection with Chicago murder
Two men from the Northwest suburbs were charged Sunday in connection with the homicide of a man in Chicago on New Year's Day.
Chicago police arrested Forrest Smith, 26, of Mount Prospect and Malcolm Whitehead, 19, of Rolling Meadows. The Cook County State's Attorney's Office charged both men with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of David Garrett, 47.
Garrett's murder was Chicago's first homicide of 2009.
Also charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery was Lorenzo Hall, 26, of South suburban Steger, who police said was the shooter.
In addition, Glenview resident Lee Foster, 25, who accompanied the other suspects in a car, was arrested on charges of probation violation.
All four are scheduled to appear in criminal court today, March 30, at 2600 S. California Ave., Chicago.
The murder stemmed from a verbal argument in the early morning hours of Jan. 1 on the 100 block of North Green Street in Chicago. according to police reports. Hall produced a handgun and shot Garrett and a second victim in the head, police said. The second victim was critically injured.
Police said the offenders fled the scene in a vehicle driven by Smith.
Interviews later revealed that Whitehead provided Hall with the handgun minutes before the shooting, police said.
Foster was a passenger in Smith's vehicle.
Chicago police detectives obtained surveillance video that led to the arrest. Among the agencies that helped in the arrest were the Mount Prospect Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff's Department.
Police said they also recovered the weapon and the vehicle used to commit the crime.
"Our detectives and also local authorities from various agencies were very vigilant in going through reams of videotape and, with that diligence, were able to identify the vehicle, along with those individuals that were involved," said Chicago police spokesman John Mirabelli. "Because of that cohesive effort, we were able to bring these individuals to justice."