Killers Followed Alsip Man, 30, Before Fatally Shooting Him In Oak Forest Intersection: Prosecutors

OAK FOREST, IL — An Alsip man fatally shot while sitting in his car with his girlfriend beside him at an Oak Forest intersection had been followed by the men charged in his death, prosecutors said in a proffer Tuesday.

Latrell Williams, 30, of Alsip, died after being shot multiple times while inside his car at 167th and Cicero on Saturday.

Charged with first-degree murder in his death are Edward Bass, 32, and Khalil Powell, 30, both of Chicago, Oak Forest police said Tuesday. It's still unclear if the three knew each other, and prosecutors did not disclose a possible motive.

Both men appeared Tuesday afternoon at Bridgeview Courthouse, where prosecutors revealed that the three men were all seen near a Country Club Hills convenience store an hour before the shooting.

Just before 4 p.m. April 11, Powell's silver Chevrolet Malibu was seen at a gas station at 167th and Pulaski, with Powell driving and Bass a passenger. Footage captured the men in what prosecutors called "distinctive" clothing—Powell wearing a tight, long-sleeved white shirt, blue jeans with "big holes on the front of both legs" and Vans shoes with jewels on the toes. Bass is seen with "distinctive long braids," and is wearing a black shirt with a skull on the lower left side and wording reading "is not a crime," prosecutors said, along with black pants with "bright yellow lines" along the entire right leg.

According to court documents, the Malibu was captured three more times on FLOCK cameras before pulling into the parking lot of Country Pantry on 175th and Pulaski in Country Club Hills just after 4:30 p.m. Minutes later, Williams was seen pulling into the parking lot in a Jeep Patriot, with his girlfriend in the passenger seat. In the footage, Williams parks next to Powell's car. Williams and his girlfriend go inside the store to shop. Before they come out, Powell's vehicle is seen leaving the parking lot before parking on the corner facing 175th Street, according to prosecutors.

Video then shows a man in clothes matching those worn by Powell trying to manipulate or alter the license plate on the Malibu. That attempt failed, and the license plate was unchanged, Cook County State's Attorney prosecutors said.

Cameras then capture Powell following Williams' car as he turns onto 175th, according to court filings. License plate readers and a red light camera then show Powell following Williams to 167th and Cicero.

At 4:47 p.m., Williams is seen stopped at a red light in the northbound lanes of Cicero, one lane to the right of the left turn lane. Powell is seen on police surveillance pulling up next to Williams, prosecutors said. The camera pans away, not capturing the shooting, then pans back afterward.

Williams' girlfriend told police she saw him put his hands up before hearing gunshots. Approximately six shots were fired at Williams, killing him. The girlfriend fled the vehicle, prosecutors said. One 9mm shell casing was recovered at the scene.

A driver in the right-hand turn lane told police they saw Powell's vehicle head eastbound on 167th, with the front passenger window down and a man "holding a firearm out the window," prosecutors said.

At 2 a.m. Sunday, Powell's car was captured on license plate readers in the area of I-57 South and 127th Street in Blue Island, according to prosecutors.

Officials said Illinois State Police attempted to pull the car over, with Powell speeding away and state police in pursuit. Powell drove for approximately 15 miles, reaching speeds of 138 mph while weaving in and out of lanes and violating at least six stoplights and two stop signs, prosecutors said.

The vehicle stopped at 51st and Hoyne, and both Powell and Bass fled on foot. Bass was seen throwing a firearm, prosecutors said.

After a foot chase, prosecutors say police took both men into custody and found the discarded firearm. A round was found in the chamber, but no magazine.

A search of Powell’s car recovered a 9mm magazine between the passenger seat and the center console, and the magazine was missing 6 rounds, according to officials.

Preliminary ballistics indicated the 9mm shell casing recovered from the scene of the shooting was fired by the 9mm, according to the court filing. Police also recovered a loaded 9mm ghost gun under the driver’s seat, prosecutors said.
Powell was charged by ISP with aggravated fleeing and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. Powell is currently on parole for armed robbery, prosecutors said.

Both men were arrested in the same clothing seen in footage at the BP, prosecutors said.

The vehicle is registered to Powell’s wife, who told police Powell had the car all day.

A Chicago police gangs intelligence officer who has had contact with Powell before identified him in the BP gas station video.

A Country Club Hills officer who had contact with Bass previously identified him in the Country Pantry video.

Both men were ordered detained until trial. Their next court date is set for May 8.