Guilty verdict in fatal 2023 shooting at Wheaton-area bar

A former Aurora man who fatally shot a fellow Wheaton-area bar patron in 2023 following a dispute over a pizza and a bar tab has been found guilty of first-degree murder, authorities said.

A jury delivered the verdict against 51-year-old Michael J. Freund on Friday, the third day of his trial. Jurors deliberated less than an hour, according to a news release from the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office.

Freund shot 37-year-old Dexter Perkins of Glen Ellyn nine times on Dec. 22, 2023, outside Rosie O’Reilly’s, 0N131 Gary Ave.

The two men and two of Freund’s co-workers had shared a pizza at the bar, but Perkins kept most of a second one for himself, prosecutors said, which prompted an argument.

Freund left the bar, got a 9 mm pistol out of his truck and shot Perkins on the bar’s front porch after a physical fight between Perkins and one of Freund’s co-workers, prosecutors said.

Perkins died at the bar. Freund was arrested on the scene.

In the news release from his office, State’s Attorney Bob Berlin called the killing senseless. He also noted the murder left two young girls fatherless.

“While today’s guilty verdict cannot bring Dexter back to those who loved him, perhaps it will allow for some measure of solace knowing that the man responsible for Dexter’s murder will be held accountable,” Berlin said.

Freund is next scheduled to appear in court Nov. 9 for delivery of a pre-sentence report and assorted motions. No information on sentencing was available.

rlissau@dailyherald.com