Jan 5, 2009 2:37 pm US/Central
$2M Bond For Teen In 'Mistaken Identity' Murder
FORD HEIGHTS (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
A south suburban teen charged with what police are calling a mistaken identity murder was ordered held on $2 million bond Sunday.
DeLondre Townsend, 18, of 1300 Deforest Ave. in Ford Heights, is charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Brandon Riley of Chicago Heights, according to a Cook County Sheriff's police spokesman Steve Patterson, who called the shooting a case of "completely mistaken identity."
Townsend was arrested Dec. 31, Patterson said. At the Markham Courthouse on Sunday, bond was set at $2 million, according to Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin.
Riley, 23, of of 367 Standish St. in Chicago Heights, was shot Dec. 29 near 11th Street and Lexington Avenue in Ford Heights, according to a spokesman for the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.
He was hit by a bullet in the back of the head and pronounced dead Dec. 31 at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, the medical examiner's office said.
"Sadly, this was a case of mistaken identity," Patterson said. "[Riley] had no prior relationship with Townsend."
Riley was with three friends driving eastbound on 11th when the shooting occurred, Patterson said.
When Townsend saw Riley's vehicle, he thought it belonged to someone he "had problems with" earlier in the day, Patterson said. He fired shots into the vehicle, killing Riley.
Three other people in the car, including the cousin Riley had gone to pick up in the area, were unhurt.
Townsend confessed shooting at the van to sheriff's police detectives, and multiple witnesses on the scene confirmed seeing him fire shots at the van Patterson said. The van, and those inside it, had nothing to do with Townsend's prior "problems."
Townsend is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Jan. 22 in Markham, Conklin said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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