By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
According to several news reports citing Cook County Sheriff officials, a 28-year-old man was shot and killed outside of Galway Bar and Grill, located at 12045 Roosevelt Road, in unincorporated Proviso Township.
Robin Thornton, 34, of Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood, stands accused of the crime and faces first-degree murder charges. She was arrested at her home following the incident when officers executed a search warrant and discovered a firearm which matched the shell casings found at the scene.
The deceased is 28-year-old Dominique Bynum, but no further details were provided at press time.
Thornton appeared before Cook County Judge David Navarro, who denied bail.
While the motive for the alleged attack was not clear, the Chicago Tribune reported that shortly after 2 a.m. on March 26, police were called to Galway Bar and Grill on a report of a person being shot in the parking lot.
Thornton was in the tavern with a group of friends while Bynum was nearby in a separate group, when members of the two groups reportedly began fighting, the Tribune reported.
Galway staff asked both groups to depart the premises. Thornton and her friends were reportedly walking toward her car in the lot when they were spotted by another witness who was seated in her own vehicle parked next to Thornton. That witness told police that she saw Thornton enter her car to retrieve something.
Bynum and two of his friends out into the parking lot and words were allegedly exchanged with Thornton and others, but no physical fights took place, according to prosecutors. While they were standing in the lot, Thornton allegedly pulled a gun from her hip area and one of the three men took off running with Thornton in pursuit. Bynum also began running after the same person, when Thornton allegedly fired three shots at him. One bullet allegedly struck Bynum in the left side of his chest and he dropped to the ground, according to officials. Thornton fled and Bynum was taken to Elmhurst Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
While investigating the parking lot at Galway’s, police found three 9mm shell casings in the middle of the lot along with an opened folding knife under Bynum’s SUV.
Thornton was arrested at her home, where police found the gun that matched the shell casings.
At least one witness identified Thornton in a photo array and portions of the attack were caught on surveillance camera, according to prosecutors.
According to her attorney, Cook County Assistant Public Defender Courtney Smallwood, Thornton has been employed for 13 years as an operations specialist for JPMorgan Chase. She has no criminal background and, in addition, has a valid FOID card as well as a concealed carry license.
Before denying bail, Navarro warned Thornton that if convicted she could still face up to natural life in prison, the Tribune reported.
“It is regardless of the fact that you do not have any prior criminal history,” Navarro said. “It is regardless of the fact that you’ve got an FOID, a concealed carry license.”
Thornton was scheduled to appear in court again on Tuesday in Maywood.
