Evanston Man Charged With Murder Of Accomplice: Task Force

WAUKEGAN, IL — An Evanston man was charged with the murder of his accomplice in a botched robbery early Tuesday in Lindenhurst, according to the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force. Police received a 911 call around 2:30 a.m. about a possible robbery at a home in the 300 block of Teal Road. When officers arrived, they found one man dead and another being detained by a resident.

Michael J. Zachery, 23, of the 1600 block of Simpson Street in Evanston, was charged with first degree murder and armed robbery, according to task force spokesman Sgt. Chris Covelli.

Investigators believe he and an accomplice, identified by the Lake County Coroner's Office as 34-year-old Joseph McHaney, traveled to a home in the 300 block of Teal Road, purporting to be interested in purchasing a firearm from a homeowner. Instead, Covelli said, they tried to rob the gun-owning resident with a knife and a hammer.

Zachery was armed with a knife as McHaney struck the homeowner multiple times with a hammer, according to the task force investigation. The resident responded by shooting in self-defense. McHaney was fatally shot by the homeowner and pronounced dead at the scene, Covelli said. Preliminary autopsy results suggest he died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Lake County Coroner's office.

Someone called 911 from inside the house, and when Lindenhurst police arrived they found Zachery being held at the scene by a resident. Tuesday evening prosecutors approved felony murder charges for the death of his fellow robber for his involvement in the incident, according to Covelli.

Under Illinois law, anyone found to have engaged in a "forcible" felony, such as armed robbery, where someone dies can be charged with first-degree murder, regardless of their intent.

Zachery appeared in bond court Wednesday morning, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office. A judge set his bail at $5 million, meaning he would need to provide $500,000 in cash to secure his release ahead of trial.