Antonio Brown not 'intended target' in son's murder, attorney says

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The father of a 7-year-old boy killed over the Fourth of July may speak with Chicago police as soon as today, his defense attorney said. Antonio Brown has been accused of not cooperating in his son's murder investigation.

Brown, 29, was in court Wednesday on charges unrelated to the murder of his son, Amari, 7. His court appearance stems from an April 6 arrest in which the convicted felon allegedly had a weapon while attempting to flee from police. He was charged with felon in possession of a firearm; possession of a gun by a gang member; and being an armed habitual criminal, which carries a sentence of at least six years if convicted.

Before the status hearing on those charges, the judge offered Brown condolences on the loss of his son, Amari, 7, who was shot to death in Humboldt Park. Following Amari's murder, Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said Brown was the intended target and called into question his willingness to cooperate with police in the investigation.

McCarthy went on to say that if Brown, who has more than 45 arrests, had been in prison on the gun charges, Amari would be alive. Brown was released on a $50,000 bond.

After the hearing, Brown's defense attorney Donna Rotunno attacked Supt. McCarthy and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel for going after her client while he's mourning his son.

"The mayor took the lead of the superintendent without really knowing all the facts and now that the facts are coming out it's very clear to the police department that my client was not the intended target of that shooting. I have continued to pass along information we've received. My client is willing to work with them. Problem is that he doesn't have a lot of independent knowledge," Rotunno said.

Rotunno also said she expects Brown sit down to talk with police, possibly as soon as Wednesday, something that he has not yet done.