Illinois juries this week acquitted one man of murder charges while convicting another for the 2019 homicide of a security guard outside Chicago nightclub Sound-Bar.
Michael Matthews was cleared of the most serious charges against him this week, with a jury acquitting him on a charge of murder in the death of 28 year old Thurman Bailey during an altercation outside Sound-Bar on March 8 2019. The jury did convict Matthews of mob action; sentencing on the latter charge is expected in December.
Matthews’ one-time co-defendant, former area basketball star Armond Williams, pled guilty to a single count of first-degree murder in 2023. Williams had starred as a basketball player for the UIC Flames and was the 2004 Horizon League Tournament MVP, later appearing on a basketball reality show hosted by LeBron James. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
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A third defendant, Jon Poole, also opted for a jury trial and was convicted of murder charges after Matthews was acquitted, according to CWB Chicago.
The homicide of Thurman Bailey had roots in an earlier conflict, according to prosectors. A week prior to the shooting, Matthews objected to how he’d been searched by security at the door at Sound-Bar. On March 8 2019, he returned with Williams and Poole and complained about the previous incident. A fight broke out and Sound-Bar security guard Thurman Bailey allegedly pulled out a gun after he’d been punched. Williams plead guilty to pulling out his own gun and shooting Bailey, who later died from gunshot wounds.
Prosecutors also alleged that Williams handed his gun to Poole while they were fleeing from the scene, and that Poole fired several shots in the direction of the club. Another man identified earlier by CWB Chicago as Sound-Bar owner Mark Jurcyzk was also injured in the shooting. The club shut down voluntarily for a week before the city issued a summary closure; Sound-Bar re-opened a month later.
