Judge Orders Accused Shooter Of 15 At Halloween Party To Be Detained

CHICAGO — A North Side man accused of spraying guests with gunfire at a Halloween gathering over the weekend and wounding 15, was ordered to be held in Cook County Jail following a detention hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.

Chicago police announced 32 felony charges against William Groves, 48, Tuesday morning. He appeared later in the afternoon before Cook County Judge David Kelly on 15 counts of attempted murder, 15 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated discharge of a firearm into an occupied building.

Groves had attended a Halloween comedy party at Studio 158, an art gallery in the 1400 block of South Pulaski Road, in Chicago’s Lawndale neighborhood. Two comedians had rented the space for the Saturday event, which was advertised on social media. A private security firm, DJ and bartenders were hired to work the party.

>>> Shooter Opened Fire On Crowd After Ejected From Halloween Party: CPD

The venue had a front glass outside door that led to a vestibule, with another glass door that led into the space.

During the evening, Groves, who was with two other men, met the comedian and they took a selfie with him. The prosecutor said Groves was later removed from the party because he was intoxicated and bumping into people, causing them to spill their drinks.

Around 1 a.m. Sunday, the manager told the comedian that Groves should be removed from the party, the prosecutor said, and Groves was escorted outside. A few minutes later, Groves tried to return to the party, but security at the front door would not allow him back into the venue, according to the complaint.

The prosecutor said when Groves wasn’t allowed back into the venue, he got into a fight with another unknown guest. A security officer intervened and broke it up.

Groves walked away. The lights were turned on inside the venue and the manager got on the microphone and told the guests to leave, numbering around 100, to leave.

A man, who was in a wheelchair, and another person, were waiting by the front door waiting for the crowd to exit the front door. The prosecutor said a witness saw Groves return holding a gun.

The witness, fearing for her safety, went back inside the venue and turned her back on Groves, the prosecutor said. It is alleged that as Groves entered the venue, Groves raised the gun and began firing indiscriminately into the crowd. People started running and fell to the ground.

The comedian and another witness heard the inner glass venue door shatter as they saw Groves firing his gun, the prosecutor said. Everyone inside the venue got down or ducked for cover until the shooting stopped. Someone grabbed the comedian’s arm and he got up and ran.

Another party guest inside the event space told police she heard shots. She tried to run but fell. A man heard the shots and got on top of his girlfriend. A sixth person who was shot heard a security guard yell “get back, get back,” before the shots rang out. As he tried to run, he fell to the ground.

Some of those who were injured were unable to get to the floor when they were shot. Security guards were seen running from the vestibule area inside the venue and toward the back when the gunfire began.

After the shooting stopped, the prosecutor said Groves ran outside and froze. One of the security guards chased Groves outside, and claimed to have seen Grove across the street with the gun in his hand.

The manager flagged down Chicago police officers, who were directed by the manager and security guard in the direction where Groves had fled, the prosecutor said. the direction where Groves had fled. Groves was apprehending moments later in the 4000 block of 14th Street.

Officers said they found Groves in possession of a 357 Sig Sauer semi-automatic
handgun.

Seventeen shots were fired in total; 10 of them were .357 caliber and seven were 9MM caliber shell casings. Preliminary ballistics testing determined that the ten of .357 fired cartridge cases recovered from the scene were fired from the 357 Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun Groves had in his possession when he was arrested, according to the charges.

The remaining 9mm shell casings were tested against the firearm Groves carried in his possession which the prosecutor said did not come back as a match.

Groves was identified by witnesses on the scene, and the comedian and another witness identified Groves in a photo, the prosecutor said. All of the witnesses and those injured consistently described the shooter as a short, bald, black male wearing a black shirt with white lettering and dark pants, which matched Groves’ description.

The victims, who were transported to area hospitals, ranged in age from 26 to 53, police said. Among the wounded were a 26-year-old woman and a 48-year-old man who were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition, according to police.

All the victims are in stable condition or have been released. Police said they are all expected to survive.

Cook County court records show Groves was found not guilty of murder in 1997. Groves was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and narcotics in 2000, and of aggravated battery and theft from person in 2003, CWB Chicago reported.

In the 2003 matter, Groves was accused of battering and robbing a victim at gunpoint in the 1200 block of West Argyle in Uptown.

Groves was sentenced to 13 years for attempted murder in 2008. The attempted murder conviction involved allegations that Groves shot a victim during a robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking in a parking lot in Englewood.

Judge Kelly ordered Groves, of the 3900 block of North Tripp Avenue, to be detained. Groves is due back in court Nov. 4 at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.

~ This story has been updated with new information.