Bond denied for felon charged in motorcycle club murders

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.suntimes.com/3148441-417/club-motorcycle-ervin-hawks-according.html
Bond denied for felon charged in motorcycle club murders
BY KIM JANSSEN
Staff Reporter
Charles Ervin The alleged gunman accused of fatally shooting two men and wounding five others at a South Side motorcycle club over the weekend was denied bail by a Cook County judge Tuesday.
Charles Ervin, 27, of the 8200 block of South Wolcott, allegedly gunned down Hawks Motorcycle Club President Emmitt Suddoth and club member Bryant Glass during a two-day New Year’s party.
Between 20 and 50 partygoers were at the club’s headquarters at 149 W. 75th St. when Ervin got in a “verbal altercation” with several club members at the bar, then pulled out a .45 caliber Glock handgun from his waistband and started firing “wildly” into the crowd in the early hours of Sunday, authorities said.
Suddoth and Glass were killed, while three other men and two women were wounded as Ervin fired at least nine shots, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Jamie Santini said.
Ervin tried to escape via a rear door, but found it locked, Santini said. When he finally exited through the front door, he tossed his handgun, Santini added.
But police responding to a call of shots fire recovered the gun and witnesses quickly identified Ervin as the shooter, the prosecutor said.
Judge Ramon Ocasio III agreed Santini’s request to deny bail to Ervin, who’s charged with two counts of first degree murder, one count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and five counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.
Ervin has prior convictions for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a controlled substance with an intent to deliver and a DUI, Santini said.
Ervin’s attorney said his client is a father-of-six who lives with his girlfriend and works in construction.
The dreadlocked Ervin, who wore baggy jeans and a long-sleeved black T-shirt in court, spoke only to confirm that he understand the charges against him.
As he was lead back to the cells, he looked towards the courtroom’s public gallery - apparently searching for relatives - but nobody was there for him.
Speaking to the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday, one of the surviving victims described the “chaotic” scene inside the club as the shots rang out.
“Nobody knew what was happening - it all happened so fast,” the victim said. “I didn’t even realize I’d been shot until I was outside.”