$1 Million Bond For Man Charged With Killing Prep Star Brother
CHICAGO (STMW) -- The brother who allegedly killed a Hyde Park Academy basketball player was ordered held on $1 million bond Sunday.
Michael D. Whitney, 19, was charged with involuntary manslaughter of a family member and unlawful use of a weapon after a handgun he was playing with discharged and killed his 16-year-old brother, Malcolm Whitney.
Friday morning, Michael found his father's loaded handgun in an unlocked drawer in their home in the 7500 block of South Kingston. He removed the gun's clip, but didn't check the chamber for additional bullets, according to the Cook County prosecutor.
Michael began teasing Malcolm with the gun as Malcolm was in the bathroom. As Malcolm reached for the gun, it went off, hitting him once in the head, according to the Cook County prosecutor.
Michael moved his brother's body from the bathroom to the family's living room couch before calling 911. He initially told police that a stray bullet came through the window and killed his brother, but later confessed to shooting him, according to the Cook County prosecutor.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office concluded Malcolm died of a single gunshot to the head and ruled the death a homicide. He was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 10:34 a.m. Friday.
"[Malcolm Whitney] was a model student-athlete, any coach would be happy to have him. He had a 3.8 GPA," said Hyde Park Academy basketball coach Antoine Samuels on Friday.
The family declined repeated requests for comment Sunday.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
