Bail set for West Chicago man charged with killing cousin

A DuPage County judge set bail Sunday at $2 million for a 19-year-old man accused in the fatal shooting of his cousin near West Chicago earlier this month.

James Hernandez, of the 300 block of Clayton Street in West Chicago, is charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery in the slaying of 27-year-old Enrique Hernandez, Jr.

Authorities say James Hernandez shot his cousin at about 11 p.m. Nov. 20, at the intersection of Highlake and DuPage avenue. The elder Hernandez was pronounced dead a short time later at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield.

During a bond hearing Sunday morning, Assistant DuPage County State's Attorney Tim Diamond said "the evidence is clear" against James Hernandez.

Records revealed heavy cellphone activity between the two men around the time of the shooting, he said.

When brought in for questioning, the 19-year-old initially denied involvement, saying he and his cousin were sitting together in a vehicle when the victim was shot by an unknown person, Diamond said.

However, Diamond said, James Hernandez later told police he and his cousin were struggling over a gun in the vehicle when the weapon went off, striking the victim, who suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

After the shooting, James Hernandez took several personal items from the victim and the vehicle, including a wallet, a money clip, a bracelet and a cellphone, Diamond said. Those items, he said, were later thrown into a pond.

Diamond said James Hernandez then took his own clothing and burned it in a neighbor's garage, and hid the gun under his sister's dresser in their home. Police also recovered a shoe from James Hernandez that had his cousin's blood on it, Diamond said.

Appearing on a video screen before Associate Judge Joseph Bugos, Hernandez said little Sunday beyond confirming his age. A public defender will be appointed to represent Hernandez, who is scheduled to return to court Dec. 28.

If convicted of first-degree murder, James Hernandez would face a minimum sentence of 45 years in prison.