Marine Corps veteran charged in Lincoln Park murder had plan for more harm, prosecutors say
A Marine veteran with a license to carry a concealed weapon says he was defending himself when he fatally shot a man who accosted him last week in Lincoln Park.But Cook County prosecutors, who have charged 35-year-old John Conway with murder in the Nov. 27 shooting, called him a danger to the community and argued that he should be held in custody pending trial during his initial court appearance on Friday.Prosecutors said the man who was shot, 34-year-old Alexander Nesteruk, was standing unarmed and with his hands at his sides when Conway opened fire. They also cited a collection of weapons, tactical gear and writings allegedly seized from Conway's apartment after the shooting as cause for concern.Among the items recovered were several handguns, a "sniper rifle," ballistic armor and a "cellphone jammer," prosecutors said. Authorities also allegedly found notebooks that contained "derogatory" writings and a "multi-paged plan to harm an unrelated individual at a specific event with notes detailing escape routes."Assistant State's Attorney Mike Pecara called those items — and the calm manner in which Conway shot Nesteruk and walked away from the scene — a "flashing warning symbol" that he would pose a danger if released. Conway's defense attorney countered that his client's military training gave him the ability to stay calm in stressful situations and said that the guns seized from Conway's apartment were for recreational shooting. “I dont know what it says, what they’re accusing him of," Assistant Public Defender Josh Thigpen said of prosecutors' vague description of the documents they recovered.Judge Caroline Glennon-Goodman said she agreed with prosecutors and ordered Conway held in custody, but narrowly focused her ruling on allegations that that Conway did not contact authorities after the shooting. John Conway Chicago Police Department “The fact that you shot this person on the street and walked away… I think heightens the risk you pose to the community," she said. Nesteruk was seen in the area earlier in the day "behaving erratically," including shouting and kicking at cars, and was eventually approached by police who "removed him from the area," prosecutors said, but he later returned.Surveillance cameras were recording shortly before 4 p.m. on the day of the shooting as Conway was approached by Nesteruk while walking in the 2400 block of North Clark Street, prosecutors said.Nesteruk did an "air kick" without making contact at Conway and both men stood facing each other, prosecutors said. The two were about a sidewalk square apart when Conway allegedly reached into his pocket and pulled out a revolver, stepped forward and fired a single shot. The bullet passed through Nesteruk and the window of a nearby business where it was later found, prosecutors said. Nesteruk was struck in the chest and stumbled back, eventually falling to the ground. Conway watched briefly before "calmly turning" and walking away, prosecutors said. Conway made no attempt to reach out to police, including when officers drove by him as they responded to the shooting, prosecutors said. Then, he allegedly went to a gym where he is a member.Nesteruk, of west suburban Wheaton, was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he died Monday."[Our] family is beyond devastated at this sudden, shocking, violent loss of life, and we demand justice," Nesteruk's family told the Chicago Sun-Times in a statement Friday. "Alex is very loved. [Our] entire family is grieving." Conway was charged with first-degree murder late Thursday after surrendering at Area 3 detective headquarters this week, shortly after police released a photo of a suspect in a community alert, according to an arrest report. A revolver of the same make that was used in the shooting was found in Conway's nearby apartment when a search warrant was executed, along with six other firearms, prosecutors said. Among the documents recovered that prosecutors said were concerning were several maps, including of the neighborhood and city marked with X's, and a map of Illinois with the locations of several colleges circled, prosecutors said without providing additional information. Conway's attorney said he had never been arrested before, was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps and had served overseas, including in a rescue mission for a downed pilot. Conway was employed as a contractor for the Federal Reserve Bank and worked remotely from his home in the city, Thigpen said, adding that his client had to pass a background check for a security clearance for his jo
A Marine veteran with a license to carry a concealed weapon says he was defending himself when he fatally shot a man who accosted him last week in Lincoln Park.
But Cook County prosecutors, who have charged 35-year-old John Conway with murder in the Nov. 27 shooting, called him a danger to the community and argued that he should be held in custody pending trial during his initial court appearance on Friday.
Prosecutors said the man who was shot, 34-year-old Alexander Nesteruk, was standing unarmed and with his hands at his sides when Conway opened fire. They also cited a collection of weapons, tactical gear and writings allegedly seized from Conway's apartment after the shooting as cause for concern.
Among the items recovered were several handguns, a "sniper rifle," ballistic armor and a "cellphone jammer," prosecutors said.
Authorities also allegedly found notebooks that contained "derogatory" writings and a "multi-paged plan to harm an unrelated individual at a specific event with notes detailing escape routes."
Assistant State's Attorney Mike Pecara called those items — and the calm manner in which Conway shot Nesteruk and walked away from the scene — a "flashing warning symbol" that he would pose a danger if released.
Conway's defense attorney countered that his client's military training gave him the ability to stay calm in stressful situations and said that the guns seized from Conway's apartment were for recreational shooting.
“I dont know what it says, what they’re accusing him of," Assistant Public Defender Josh Thigpen said of prosecutors' vague description of the documents they recovered.
Judge Caroline Glennon-Goodman said she agreed with prosecutors and ordered Conway held in custody, but narrowly focused her ruling on allegations that that Conway did not contact authorities after the shooting.
“The fact that you shot this person on the street and walked away… I think heightens the risk you pose to the community," she said.
Nesteruk was seen in the area earlier in the day "behaving erratically," including shouting and kicking at cars, and was eventually approached by police who "removed him from the area," prosecutors said, but he later returned.
Surveillance cameras were recording shortly before 4 p.m. on the day of the shooting as Conway was approached by Nesteruk while walking in the 2400 block of North Clark Street, prosecutors said.
Nesteruk did an "air kick" without making contact at Conway and both men stood facing each other, prosecutors said.
The two were about a sidewalk square apart when Conway allegedly reached into his pocket and pulled out a revolver, stepped forward and fired a single shot.
The bullet passed through Nesteruk and the window of a nearby business where it was later found, prosecutors said.
Nesteruk was struck in the chest and stumbled back, eventually falling to the ground. Conway watched briefly before "calmly turning" and walking away, prosecutors said.
Conway made no attempt to reach out to police, including when officers drove by him as they responded to the shooting, prosecutors said. Then, he allegedly went to a gym where he is a member.
Nesteruk, of west suburban Wheaton, was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he died Monday.
"[Our] family is beyond devastated at this sudden, shocking, violent loss of life, and we demand justice," Nesteruk's family told the Chicago Sun-Times in a statement Friday. "Alex is very loved. [Our] entire family is grieving."
Conway was charged with first-degree murder late Thursday after surrendering at Area 3 detective headquarters this week, shortly after police released a photo of a suspect in a community alert, according to an arrest report.
A revolver of the same make that was used in the shooting was found in Conway's nearby apartment when a search warrant was executed, along with six other firearms, prosecutors said.
Among the documents recovered that prosecutors said were concerning were several maps, including of the neighborhood and city marked with X's, and a map of Illinois with the locations of several colleges circled, prosecutors said without providing additional information.
Conway's attorney said he had never been arrested before, was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps and had served overseas, including in a rescue mission for a downed pilot.
Conway was employed as a contractor for the Federal Reserve Bank and worked remotely from his home in the city, Thigpen said, adding that his client had to pass a background check for a security clearance for his job.
Conway was expected back in court Dec. 26.
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