Chicago man facing murder charges in summer fatal drive-by shooting denied bail

SYCAMORE - A Chicago man was denied bail as he faces murder charges related to a fatal drive-by shooting over the summer.

Norman Clark, 26, of the 5000 block of West Concord Place in Chicago, is charged with first degree murder, a Class M felony, and appeared before a DeKalb County judge Tuesday for a second bond hearing, where he was denied bail.

He’ll remain in DeKalb County Jail as he faces his charges, the second person to be charged with murder stemming from a July 13 shooting that took place in the parking lot of Hillcrest Shopping Mall, killing 32-year-old Johnny Black-Haygood.

Wayne Q. Slater, 27, of the 900 block of Ridge Drive, also was charged in July with murder. Slater was also denied bond last summer and plead not guilty on Aug. 4, 2020, according to court records. He remains in DeKalb County Jail pending his court proceedings, with trials having been stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If convicted, both men could face between 45 and 75 years in jail, because of the allegations that the felony charge took place with a gun.

Clark’s virtual court hearing Tuesday was via Zoom from the jail in front of DeKalb County Circuit Court Judge Robbin Stuckert, who ruled to approve the DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office’s motion to deny bail.

In her appeal to the judge, Assistant State’s Attorney Suzanne Collins said the charges and circumstances of the July 13 shooting justify a bond denial, alleging Clark “poses a real and present threat to the physical safety of others as evidences by his actions with this murder and his criminal history,” records show.

Collins said Clark has multiple felony convictions, including use of a weapon by a felon, for which he was on parole at the time the alleged murder took place.

According to DeKalb County court documents, DeKalb police responded to the 1000 block of West Hillcrest for reports of a shooting on the night of July 13. Prosecutors previously said Slater and Black-Haygood knew each other and had had a recent argument over some stolen property prior to the shooting.

While he was in custody, Slater allegedly admitted to being inside the car, which police now believe was allegedly driven by Clark, records state.

The shooting occurred in the parking lot of Hillcrest Shopping mall, and prosecutors said in July Black-Haygood was shot in the chest, and later died at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital from his injuries.

Prosecutors said Black-Haygood was walking along Hillcrest that evening when a 2006 Dodge Caravan drove up beside him, a side door was opened, and gunfire came out directed towards the 32-year-old.

Prosecutors allege the car, driven by Clark, drove past Black-Haygood and then quickly circled back around, slowed down and came to a stop beside him. Witnesses on the scene allegedly told DeKalb police the shooter’s name was Wayne, who was later identified by police.

The Dodge Caravan that Slater allegedly fired the gun from also was seen twice in nearby surveillance camera footage from businesses around the Hillcrest shopping mall, records show.

Slater is set to appear for a hearing on Feb. 24 at 2:30 p.m. in front of Stuckert, while Clark’s next court appearance is set for Feb. 18 at 2:30 p.m.