Aldi Murder Suspect Found Hanged In Cell
UPDATED 11/17/11 5:07 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A man charged in the murder of a security guard at an Auburn-Gresham neighborhood Aldi store was found hanged in his cell at a police station lockup early Thursday.
Police say Develt Bradford, 52, was found hanged in a holding cell at the Calumet District police station, 727 E. 111th St.
Jail staff said Bradford committed suicide by hanging himself with his pajamas.
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He was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:03 a.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.
Police News Affairs said Bradford was checked on 10 minutes before he was found dead, and that cells are usually checked every 15 minutes.
Bradford, of the 5200 block of South Damen Avenue, had been set to appear for a bond hearing Thursday on charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery for the Nov. 10 robbery and murder at the Aldi store at 9001 S. Halsted St.
Security guard Reginald Lanier, 54, of the Beverly neighborhood, was killed during the robbery, and a 67-year-old woman who was shopping at the store was injured as she tried to escape.
Two armed robbers came up to a register at the Aldi around 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10, and announced a robbery.
Lanier got into a struggle with one of the suspects, who pulled out a gun and shot him multiple times in the head and upper torso, police said.
The woman who was trying to escape was shot in the leg as she tried to run out. She was treated and released at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
"I was saying, 'God, I don't want to go like this,'" she told CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot.
Bradford was also charged with two counts of armed robbery for another holdup at the Aldi at 47th Street and Ashland Avenue on Oct. 28, the Cook County State's Attorney's office told the Sun-Times Media Wire.
Sources said Bradford told police he didn't shoot Lanier, that his partner did. Sources also said Bradford gave everyone up who was involved in the robbery, before he hanged himself.
Another suspect, Michael Smith, remains on the loose in the Nov. 10 robbery and murder. Police on Thursday released his identity and photo and ask the public to call (312) 747-8272 if they have information.
