Feb. 19--A 27-year-old man was ordered held Friday on $1.5 million bail in an October slaying of a man who defended his girlfriend after she was grabbed at a party in the Austin neighborhood.
Charles Thorne was charged with first-degree murder in the Oct. 10 fatal shooting of Alston McNeal. Thorne's younger brother, Antoine Thorne was charged in connection with McNeal's slaying in December, prosecutors said.
Shortly before 3:30 a.m. that day, McNeal, 33, was attending a birthday party with his girlfriend in the area of the 1100 block of North Lawler Avenue. At some point, Antoine Thorne, 25, grabbed the buttocks of McNeal's girlfriend and the two men began to argue. McNeal eventually walked away, prosecutors said.
After the initial altercation, Charles Thorne approached his brother and asked him what happened. Soon after, Antoine Thorne walked up to McNeal, who was near the front door of the apartment, and pulled out a gun. When McNeal began to wrestle with Thorne for the gun, McNeal's brother jumped in to help. During the struggle the weapon discharged, but no one was struck, prosecutors said.
Charles Thorne then approached the struggle, pulled out a handgun and shot McNeal in the head. The two brothers then fled the scene, prosecutors said.
McNeal was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Both Thornes were identified by witness at the scene. The Charles Thorne was arrested Jan. 17 in Wisconsin. His brother was arrested Nov. 30, 2016, and ordered held on $750,000 in December, according to court records.
Friday the older Thorne was ordered held in lieu of $1.5 million bail.
