Aug 27, 2008 4:20 pm US/Central
Man Who Wanted To Be 'Popular' Indicted For Murder
CHICAGO (STNG) ―
A man who allegedly helped the killer of a 15-year-old high school student because he wanted to be "popular" was formally charged with murder on Wednesday.
Willie Thompson, 19, of the 100 block of West 66th Street, was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder, according to Cook County State's Attorney's office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton.
Thompson, who is being held on $500,000 bond, will be arraigned Sept. 15 in Violence Court (Br. 66), she said.
He is charged in connection with the July 30 murder of 15-year-old Allan Komperda, according to police.
Komperda was shot in front of his home at 140 W. 66th St., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. He was pronounced dead at Comer Children's Hospital at 10:42 a.m.
An autopsy determined he died of a gunshot wound to the pelvis and his death was ruled a homicide, the medical examiner's office said.
About 2:20 a.m. on July 30, the teen, who did not appear to have gang ties, answered the door of his home and the attacker shot him and fled, according to police News Affairs Officer Laura Kubiak.
Prosecutors claim Thompson rang the doorbell and another offender shot Komperda, court records said.
Prior to the shooting, Thompson was allegedly approached by the shooter and told to ring the bell so someone would open the door, prosecutors claimed.
Thompson allegedly knew two or more people could be killed, but agreed to ring the bell because "he wanted to be popular and have status" in the neighborhood and with the shooter, prosecutors said.
It is unclear if Thompson knew the victim or the other occupants of the apartment, though he lives in the same block at 148 W. 66th.
No charges have been filed against the shooter.
Komperda would have been starting 10th grade at Chicago Vocational Career Academy next month, according to a CPS spokesman.
(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2008. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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