Thurman Bailey, a 28-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on March 8, 2019, in Chicago, IL. Known affectionately as the "Thurmanator" due to his imposing stature of 6-foot-8 and over 300 pounds, Bailey worked as a bouncer at Sound Bar, a nightclub in the River North area. On the night of his death, a brawl erupted outside the club after a group of about 15 people were denied entry. During the altercation, a man pulled out a handgun and began shooting, hitting Bailey.
He was rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A 58-year-old man associated with the club was also injured in the shooting but survived.
The investigation into Thurman Bailey's death led to the arrest of Armond Williams, a 37-year-old man from Villa Park. Williams was charged with first-degree murder after being identified from surveillance footage. According to police, Williams was part of the group that was denied entry to the club, which led to the initial fistfight. Williams then pulled out a gun and fired at Bailey. He was arrested on March 20, 2019, and faced multiple felony charges.
Further developments in the case saw Michael Matthews, another individual involved in the incident, charged with first-degree murder and mob action. Matthews, who had previously been upset with how he was patted down at the club's entrance, returned with Williams on the night of the shooting. The confrontation escalated, resulting in Bailey's death. Matthews' case is still pending, with charges under an Illinois law that allows individuals involved in a felonious action to be charged with murder if someone is killed during the commission of the crime.
In October 2023, Armond Williams was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder. The plea deal resulted in the dropping of 18 other felony charges, including multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. The sentencing brought some closure to the case, although the legal proceedings for Matthews and another suspect, Jon Poole, are ongoing.
