A trial date of April 20 has been set for Jonathan Williams, the man accused of firing gunshots in Gojo’s Cafe during a brawl last May in which three people were shot.
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Although six Waukegan residents were charged in connection with the May 5 incident, Williams faces the most serious charges, including three counts of attempted murder. If convicted of all three Class X felony counts, Assistant State’s Attorney Jim Newman said Williams could be sentenced to more than 90 years in prison.
Most of those charged were arrested shortly after the incident, but Williams allegedly fled and was wanted on a $1 million warrant before he was arrested in December in Minneapolis, Newman said.
According to police reports and prosecutors, a brawl at about 3 a.m. led to the shootings in the restaurant’s entryway.
Williams, 21, is being held in Lake County Jail on $1 million bail.
At a hearing Tuesday, Judge Daniel Shanes set the trial date, and, at the request of defense attorney Robert Ritacca, set a hearing date of April 16 for a motion to quash witness identification of Williams.
Ritacca also indicated to the judge that he is interested in a plea deal for Williams, and has a sentencing range in mind. After the hearing, however, Newman would not confirm if negotiations were being considered in the case.
None of those wounded during the brawl suffered life-threatening injuries. All three were also charged in connection with the melee and those cases have been resolved.
Ronnie Nicholson, 28, of Waukegan, pleaded guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and was sentenced to five years in prison under a plea deal.
Daniel Williams, 33, was charged with mob action and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. His case was resolved when it was combined under a plea deal with an unrelated charge of resisting police. He was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.
According to officials in the Lake County state’s attorney’s office, Nicholson allegedly pulled out a gun during a fight in the restaurant. Authorities said he dropped it and briefly left the restaurant. Jonathan Williams then allegedly opened fire and struck Forrest Jackson, 23, in the leg; Shawn Garrett, 18, in the back; and Leon Pruitt, 23, in the buttocks, officials said.
Jackson, Garrett and Pruitt all pleaded guilty to mob action charges last year in exchange for sentences of 180 days in Lake County Jail.
Twitter @jimnewton5