No Bail For Suspected Gunman In Fatal Orland Square Shooting

ORLAND PARK, IL -- A 20-year-old parolee said to be tied to the fatal shooting of a teen at Orland Square Mall earlier this week was ordered to be held without bond. Jakharr Williams appeared before Cook County Judge John J. Mahoney in Bridgeview on a charge of unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. More charges may be forthcoming.

Williams court hearing was postponed by a few hours after Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Deno told the judge that there was “new information” which needed to sorted out. When the prosecution and defense were ready to proceed, Williams appeared in court wearing a black t-shirt and black sweatpants with a stripe running down the side.

According to the complaint, 17-year-old Javon Britton was at Orland Square Mall around 6:32 a.m. Monday with his cousin and half-brother. The youths encountered Williams in the food court area, where Britton and Williams got into an altercation. Assistant State’s Attorney Cheryl Galvin said that Williams pulled out a gun and shot Britton in the chest and wounded another bystander.

Williams was known to Britton and his companions, who had all attended Rich Central High School. The witnesses identified Williams as the alleged shooter. The prosecutor said that Williams fled the shopping mall with the gun. Britton was later pronounced deceased at Advocate Christ Medical Center. Witnesses identified Williams as the person who shot Britton.

Williams was the subject of an intensive manhunt. A relative told Patch that Williams was arrested Wednesday, while trying to board a Metra train in Matteson.

In 2016, Wiliams was convicted of armed robbery after he took a victim’s cell phone and cash in Chicago Heights. While that case was pending, Galvin said Williams was picked up an aggravated unlawful use of a weapon charge in Will County. Williams pleaded guilty to the Will County UUW charge and received two years’ probation, Galvin said. He pleaded guilty to the armed robbery and was sentenced to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Williams was paroled last June. There is currently a no-bond parole hold for Williams, Galvin said.

“He is presents a clear and present danger to society,” she added.

Attorney Jose Zamora representing Williams for the bond hearing, said that Williams graduated from Rich Central High School and has a child on the way. He lives with a sister and was to have started a new job. Zamora asked the judge to set bail at $100,000, with ten-percent to apply and electronic home monitoring.

“Can he post $10,000,” Mahoney asked.

“Yes, he can post that,” Zamora said.

The judge said that the proof of probable cause is evident.

“No bond,” Mahoney said.

Williams is due back in court Feb. 8 in Bridgeview. After the hearing, Britton’s relatives wept and hugged each other in the hall.

“It hurts,” a woman said, weeping.

Eric Russell, a distant relative and executive director of Tree of Life Justice League, said the family was satisfied with how the investigation is proceeding so far.

“We’re just going to let it play its course,” Russell said.

Earlier Friday, Orland Park police stated that the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has reviewed the case and “at this time has approved only the charge of unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon against the offender … the police investigation continues.

Family spokesman Eric Russell speaks to reporters after the bond hearing for Jakharr Williams.

More coverage on Patch:

• 1 Dead, Bystander Wounded In Orland Square Mall Shooting
• Orland Square Mall Shooting Suspect In Custody
• Suspect In Orland Square Mall Shooting Identified, Manhunt Continues
• Inside The Mall: Witness Accounts Of The Orland Park Shooting