Prosecutors objected Tuesday to a Harvey teenager’s request for video evidence as he awaits trial for murder in a May 2020 fatal shooting outside a New Lenox gas station.
The defendant was 16 years old when prosecutors say he shot 19-year-old New Lenox resident Charles Baird outside the Circle K gas station on Nelson Road. The teen, now 18, is being held on a $2.5 million bond in custody of the Will County sheriff’s office.
The defendant, wearing a blue Will County Jail jumpsuit and black-framed glassed, requested video of the shooting, which Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel Egan objected to because the defendant has seen the video “multiple times” with detectives. Egan said he also doesn’t want a copy of the shooting circulating in the jail.
“There’s clear evidence of (the defendant) shooting this guy in the back,” Eagan said.
But Judge Amy M. Bertani-Tomczak denied the objection stating defendants receive video in their cases if requested.
The defense also requested the police and autopsy reports in his case, which has taken time to redact, officials said.
Egan also filed a motion to study DNA evidence collected from the defendant, which Bertani-Tomczak granted. The DNA has already been collected, Egan said, but has to be studied.
“They haven’t done anything with this. It’s still in the New Lenox Police Department,” Egan said.
Egan declined to comment after the hearing.
Jennifer Baird, Charles’ mother, said Tuesday she was surprised video evidence has been requested since he’s already viewed it. Baird said she hasn’t seen the video.
“This has been going on for so long,” Baird said. “We’re just waiting.”
The case was continued until Oct. 27.
