2 found not guilty in shootout with police

A Cook County judge has found two alleged gang members not guilty of conspiracy to commit murder.

Lamell Burns and Melvin Martin were charged in connection with a shootout with Chicago police in October 2006 that left two of the defendants' fellow reputed gang members dead.

Prosecutors alleged secret wiretaps revealed Martin and Burns planned a hit on a rival Traveling Vice Lord gang member. The two allegedly were directing a car containing three others to the victim's location when cops pulled them over to prevent the slaying.

In the shootout, one man was wounded and two others, 21-year-old Marcus Thomas and 23-year-old William Tyler, were killed. A police officer was also wounded.

In handing down his verdict yesterday, Judge Dennis J. Porter said without mention of the rival on the wiretaps, there was no overwhelming evidence of a conspiracy.