A man was charged with stabbing a friend to death Wednesday afternoon in Austin when his friend asked him to stop drinking alcohol and instead have some water, prosecutors said.
Darren Jones, 33, was charged with first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing, which happened on Jones’ porch in the 500 block of North Lavergne, according to Cook County prosecutors.
Judge Mary Marubio ordered Jones held without bail during his initial court appearance Saturday.
Jones plunged a knife into 40-year-old Cyrus Henning’s chest about 12:50 p.m. when Henning urged Jones to slow down with his drinking, prosecutors said during the hearing. A person who witnessed the stabbing started pleading with Jones to stop when he subsequently started hitting Henning, and another witness reported seeing Jones holding a knife, prosecutors said.
Henning was rushed to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, and Jones was arrested on the porch, according to court records and Chicago police. Prosecutors said Jones later admitted to the stabbing.
Jones, who has twice been convicted of unlawful use of a weapon, donned a hospital gown when he appeared in court in a wheelchair, one of his arms wrapped in gauze. His public defender said Jones makes money by selling copies of StreetWise and receives government assistance.
After denying him bail, Marubio set Jones’ next court date for Monday.
