A South Side man was sentenced to seven years in jail on Tuesday after shooting a good Samaritan during an argument with a parking enforcement official near Oakwood Beach two summers ago.
William Hunter, 56, pled guilty to aggravated violence by discharge of a handgun in return for the sentence imposed by Judge Thomas Byrne. Prosecutors dropped six additional charges, including four counts of attempted murder.
The investigation centered on a shooting that occurred on July 8, 2023, in the Oakwood Beach parking lot on the 3900 block of South Lake Shore Drive.
Prosecutors claimed Hunter was in his minivan when he noticed a city revenue official prepared to issue citations in the parking lot. Hunter allegedly leaned out of his car and shouted, “What the f*** are you doing?”
The worker ignored him, but Hunter got out, approached her, and hurled abuses, according to officials.
A 44-year-old driver entered the lot and attempted to calm him down.
“He attempted to calm the defendant down and make a statement that the worker was just doing her job,” a prosecutor said immediately after Hunter’s arrest.
Instead of calming down, prosecutors say Hunter shoved the man, hit him in the face, and then took a revolver from his hoodie pocket. He fired multiple times, striking the helpful Samaritan in the face, belly, arm, and side.
The meter maid ducked behind a car when the firing started. She later gave detectives a partial license plate number, which helped them locate Hunter’s minivan.
The victim was hospitalized in severe condition and underwent at least four procedures.
Paramedics discovered a 9-millimeter pistol in the victim’s waistband, but prosecutors claim all round casings at the scene were .380 caliber, and the witness saw only Hunter fire.
Hunter must serve at least 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for release. His prior offenses include a DUI in 2015, a burglary in 2012, and the unauthorized use of a weapon by a felon in 2008.
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