Trial Begins For 2010 Evanston Murder Suspect

Opening arguments began Wednesday in the murder trial of 29-year-old Evanston resident John Anthony Bamberg, Jr., according to the Chicago Tribune.

Bamberg is charged with first-degree murder after of Evanston, in September 2010. Police say that Davis was pulling his car out of Smitty’s Garage, at 1422 Dodge Ave., when Bamberg approached and fired multiple shots into the window. 

During trial proceedings on Wednesday, a prosecutor from the State’s Attorney’s Office said Bamberg had threatened to hurt Davis prior to the murder, according to the Tribune. Bamberg’s attorney, however, told the judge that the investigation was clouded by “terrible police work,” the Tribune reports. 

Speaking at a community vigil held shortly after Davis’ death, his sister, Tyra Davis, said she would “never be the same” without her brother. 

“My brother lost his life for nothing, he didn’t have a chance to run away or defend himself,” she told a crowd gathered at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church.

Trial proceedings for Bamberg continued on Thursday, according to a representative of the Cook County Circuit Court in Skokie. 

For more on the trial, visit the Chicago Tribune website. For more on Davis’ murder, check out our past coverage on Evanston Patch:

• Community Rallies Against Violence
• Police Arrest Suspect in Recent Homicide
• UPDATE: Man Shot and Killed Near Evanston Township High School