Aaron Smith / Photo from Chicago Police
BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor
Aaron Smith was ordered held on $1 million bond Tuesday after prosecutors claimed he beat Anthony Morris to death in the Park Manor neighborhood in March.
On March 26, Morris met Smith to buy marijuana in the 7000 block of South Vincennes Avenue, but instead Morris decided to steal "a large quantity of marijuana," said Assistant State's Attorney Colleen Rogers.
After taking the drugs, Morris ran away and called a nearby friend to pick him up, Rogers said.
Smith and his acquaintances followed the vehicle and the group beat Morris a short distance later, Rogers said. When Morris attempted to crawl away, the group beat him until he laid motionless, Rogers said.
Witnesses said Smith picked up an object over the ground and used it to hit Morris in the head multiple times, Rogers said. The witnesses 911 and Morris was taken in critical condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
Morris, 27, of Jackson, Tenn., died at the hospital April 3 from complications from the head and brain injuries, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Smith, 28, of the 6500 block of South Washtenaw Avenue, was arrested this week and charged with murder, authorites said.
On Tuesday, Judge James Brown ordered Smith held on $1 million bond.
Smith was convicted of possession of a controlled substance in 2002 and 2004, according to court records. Smith's public defender noted he is a forklift operator and volunteers at church.
-- Contributing: Rummana Hussain