Feb. 22--A West Side man who recently appeared in court on a misdemeanor traffic violation wound up arrested and charged with killing a man who owed him money and was dating his longtime girlfriend, prosecutors said Sunday.
Samuel Miller, 30, was attending a traffic court hearing for a misdemeanor DUI charge at the Daley Center when he was arrested connection with the shooting death of Louis Taylor, 35, late on July 30, according to Assistant State's Attorney Anna Sedelmaier. The Cook County medical examiner's office previously had identified the victim as Taylor J. Lewis.
Miller, a reputed member of the Black Souls gang with a lengthy criminal history, stood silent as Judge Peggy Chiampas denied him bail Sunday.
Miller, also known by his nickname "Silk," opened fire on a group of five people who were entering Taylor's apartment in the 8900 block of South Houston Street, Sedelmaier said. Taylor was hit at least three times, twice in the left armpit and once in the groin, said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 19-year-old man from Glendale, Ariz., who had helped Taylor move in also suffered a shattered femur when he was shot in the left leg. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was stabilized, police said.
Chicago police found several .40-caliber shells on the scene, and after interviewing witnesses, they learned that Taylor owed Miller money, Sedelmaier said.
Taylor and Miller also appeared to be involved in a love triangle as well, according to Sedelmaier.
Taylor and his girlfriend "had gotten into an argument earlier on in the day because she had also been dating the defendant, Samuel Miller, on and off, and had children with him," Sedelmaier said.
The woman was planning on living with Taylor, who had just moved into his apartment the day of the shooting. She gave birth to Taylor's child on Feb. 19, Sedelmaier said.
Multiple eyewitnesses, including the surviving victim, identified Miller in a photo array and photo line-up.
At the time of the shooting, Miller was on parole for a 2012 conviction for possession of cannabis. Miller has been convicted of two other felonies: a 2008 aggravated battery with a firearm and a 2005 possession of a controlled substance. He currently has two pending cases, a misdemeanor DUI and manufacturing and delivery of drugs on school grounds.
Miller, of the 4200 block of West Maypole Avenue, is scheduled to return to court Monday in connection with the murder and attempted murder charges.
tbriscoe@tribpub.com
Twitter: @_tonybriscoe
