DeKalb murder suspect likely to stay jailed

SYCAMORE – An 18-year-old Chicago man accused of first-degree murder in the 2016 shooting death of a DeKalb man will likely remain in jail until trial as a judge denied his motion for a lower bond.

David T. Walls, 18, of Chicago, is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated unlawful use of a firearm in connection with the Oct. 6 slaying of 25-year-old Debrece G. Shields. Walls was arrested along with Nico L. Griggs, 27, of Park Forest, after their getaway vehicle ran out of gas on Peace Road in Sycamore, police said.

Walls’ attorney, Nate Gordon, asked Chief Judge Robbin Stuckert to reduce his client’s bond from $5 million to $500,000, at a hearing earlier this week. The reduction would have allowed Walls to be released from jail by posting $50,000 bail. Instead, he has to post $500,000.

Walls, who has no criminal history, graduated from the Chicago Public School system in 2016 and is the oldest child of a single mother who depends on him for help with his two younger siblings, Gordon said. The defense attorney said his client was never found with a weapon. In a bond reduction motion, Gordon said that while at the DeKalb County Jail “there have been occasions where other inmates have attempted to assault” his client.

First Assistant State’s Attorney Stephanie Klein opposed the bond reduction. She noted that Walls was arrested shortly after the Jeep he was in ran out of gas. Two guns were found near the vehicle, including a 9 mm handgun that matched the same manufacturer and caliber as spent casings found at the crime scene – a parking lot behind an apartment building at 810 Kimberly Drive.

“While the gun wasn’t found on the defendant, it was certainly found in close proximity to him,” Klein said.

She said that the strength of the prosecution’s case against Walls was one of the 34 factors to be considered in setting bond. Klein detailed the evidence connecting Walls to the crime, including witness reports, surveillance video and what appeared to be blood stains on his pants and shoes.

Gordon disputed some of the evidence. He said that at least one witness told police the shooters were a man and woman in a black vehicle, not a tan Jeep with a dangling front license plate.

Stuckert denied the bond reduction, saying that there had been no changes in Walls’ circumstances since he was first arrested and bond was initially set that would entitle such a reduction. The judge also ordered Walls to provide a DNA sample that could be compared with evidence collected at the scene of the crime.

Walls is next due in court March 30. Griggs is next due in court April 11.