Chicago man charged after Army veteran shot, killed in Oak Park ordered detained in court appearance

OAK PARK, Ill. (WLS) -- The 20-year-old Chicago man charged after an Army veteran was killed in a shooting in Oak Park Friday morning will be detained until his next hearing, after appearing in court Monday.

Jabari McGee has been charged with first-degree murder in connection to the shooting death of 54-year-old Corey Gates of South Holland.

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Gates' family was in court Monday, but did not talk to reporters. They were visibly upset.

The judge said McGee acted in a mob-like fashion with eight others.

"The incident is captured on Ring camera; video and audio capture someone in the group saying, 'wake up,'" Assistant State's Attorney Eugene Wood said.

Police responded at about 1:23 a.m. Friday to the 600-block of South Boulevard and found Gates with an apparent gunshot wound.

He was taken to Loyola Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

READ MORE | 6 in custody after Army veteran shot, killed during Oak Park carjacking: 'He was a fighter'

Loved ones of the victim spoke exclusively with ABC7 on Friday. They said the shooting began with an attempted carjacking.

Family members said Gates was an Army veteran who served in the Gulf War, and was a fighter even in his final moments alive. They said he fought back against an armed group who tried to steal his car.

The family says the Gulf War Army veteran worked as a phlebotomist.

Prosecutors say Gates was sleeping in his car. He was in between late-night shifts at a nursing home in Oak Park.

Prosecutors said nine people swarmed the vehicle.

"The victim's passenger door eventually opened, and a physical struggle ensued between the victim, Corey Gates, and one to three of the offenders. During this struggle, a firearm or multiple firearms were discharged," Wood said.

The prosecutor says McGee admitted to police that he punched Gates in the face twice. At some point, the state says McGee was also shot.

It's not clear who pulled the trigger.

"Jabari McGee made good on his escape, fleeing to a nearby gas station," Wood said. "Gas station store security video shows McGee using the napkins to wipe away blood from his wound."

Prosecutors say McGee was treated at West Suburban Hospital before being arrested at his home the next morning.

Attorneys for McGee argued the state did not present evidence McGee was the actual shooter.

But the judge called the incident "mob action fashion," and referenced his criminal history of being charged with aggravated sexual assault as reason that he would be a danger to the community if released.

Police later found three children and two adults matching the description running east on Pleasant Street from Cuyler Avenue and took them into custody. An additional adult male suspect was later taken into custody, police said.

Five of the six people taken into custody were released without charges, police announced Saturday.

Oak Park police said in a statement that the investigation is ongoing, but no other arrests have been made at this point.

McGee is next due in court April 25.