A 49-year-old Illinois man has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a 37-year-old man, according to reports.
Michael Freund is accused of fatally shooting Perkins outside Rosie O’Reilly’s pub in unincorporated Wheaton Friday morning following what police say was an argument that started over a bar tab and pizza.
Police were called to the bar at 0N131 Gary Ave. around 8:40 a.m. for a report of shots fired. When they got to the scene, they found Dexter Perkins dead.
According to prosecutors, Perkins and another man got into a “scuffle” outside the bar.
Allegedly there’s video that shows men exchanging words and appearing to grapple with each other on the front deck outside of Rosie O’Reilly’s. A third man, who appears to be Freund, yells at the pair to “stop” before firing two shots into the air with what appears to be a handgun.
Prosecutors say that during the “scuffle,” Freund got a Glock 9mm out of his pocket and fired two shots into the air. Perkins approached Freund, according to prosecutors, and Freund is accused of shooting at Perkins, hitting him in his face and torso.
Police say Freund fired his gun 11 times, in total, before putting it in his vehicle’s center console. According to prosecutors, Perkins knew neither Freund nor the other man involved in the scuffle.
Perkins died of multiple gunshot wounds according to DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen
“Yesterday morning, Dexter Perkins lost his life allegedly over a dispute regarding pizza and a bar tab,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Berlin said in a statement.
He added, “For this senseless act of violence that resulted in the death of an innocent man, Mr. Freund now finds himself facing first degree murder charges. I offer my sincere condolences to Dexter’s family and friends and wish them strength as they are now forced to continue their lives without the love and friendship they enjoyed with Dexter.
Freund is being held at DuPage County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 18.
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