Two men charged with murdering an Oak Park barbershop owner in an ambush nearly two years ago did so in retaliation for the victim’s decision to sleep with another man’s woman, a prosecutor said Wednesday.
Dion Chambers, 51, and Ian Guthrie, 40, are charged in the May 9, 2014, shooting death of Lamar Canady. The 32-year-old father of four was shot more than a dozen times, said Deputy District Attorney Sophia Roach.
In her opening statement, the prosecutor told jurors that Guthrie arrived at the scene near 54th and Redwood streets in a car about 11 a.m., followed minutes later by Chambers, also known at Peter Johnson.
Chambers went into a nearby liquor store and looked at some beers, asking the clerk if he should buy cans or bottles, Roach said.
At 11:22 a.m., Guthrie called Chambers to say that Canady had stepped out of the barbershop, according to the prosecutor. She said Chambers went to Guthrie’s car and pulled out a 9mm handgun and proceeded to the barbershop.
Once there, in five seconds, Chambers shot Canady 14 times, including above the eye, leg, back and several times in the head, including one shot to the back of head that singed the victim’s hair and scalp, the prosecutor alleged.
Chambers and Guthrie fled the scene, but a criminalist was able to go through phone records and pick out the one call that Guthrie made to Chambers, Roach said.
The defendants — who are from Jamaica — were tracked down through their phones and found to have fake Florida driver’s licenses, Roach said.
A search turned up evidence that connected Chambers and Guthrie to a drug trafficking ring, the prosecutor said. Also in Guthrie’s possession was music that the victim had produced, Roach told the jury.
Guthrie eventually pointed the finger for the killing at another man, who wanted Canady dead in retaliation for him sleeping with his woman two years earlier, according to the prosecutor.
Jan Ronis, Guthrie’s attorney, said his client was mistakenly identified through surveillance video as being near the murder scene.
Ronis said Guthrie was a marijuana dealer who knew Chambers, but that had nothing to do with Canady’s killing.
Guthrie told police that he had heard of a beef between Canady and another man, and that a “hit” may have been ordered.
Roach told a separate jury hearing the evidence against Chambers that the clothes he was wearing when he allegedly murdered Canady were found in the defendant’s home.
Chambers’ attorney told the jury that law enforcement jumped to conclusions and mishandled evidence in the case.
The attorney said Guthrie was a gang member who dared people to come after him for stealing drugs and women.
Chambers faces 50 years to life in prison if convicted. Guthrie faces 25 years to life behind bars if he’s found guilty.
–City News Service
