On March 19, 2023, Carl Austin, a 33-year-old resident of DeKalb, Illinois, was fatally shot in the parking lot of University Village apartments. The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. near the entrance of the apartment building in the 800 block of Normal Road, DeKalb.
Austin was involved in a marijuana deal with Romel A. Hollingsworth Jr., a 20-year-old man from the 800 block of Russell Road in DeKalb. According to prosecutors, the deal went bad, leading to a violent confrontation. Hollingsworth allegedly fired about two dozen rounds from a .40-caliber gun, resulting in Austin suffering 13 gunshot wounds and 20 bullet holes in his body. Austin's injuries included wounds to his heart, lungs, head, and colon, along with internal hemorrhaging.
Police found Austin unresponsive on the ground outside the apartment building and transported him to Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Romel A. Hollingsworth Jr. was identified as the suspect based on witness descriptions and was subsequently charged with first-degree murder. Hollingsworth claimed during an interview with police that Austin had pulled a gun on him and that he feared being robbed. However, this claim did not sway the court, as Hollingsworth was denied bond due to the violent nature of the crime and his prior criminal history, including a pending case in Cook County for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Hollingsworth's case has undergone several judicial adjustments, including a change in defense attorneys and a substitution of judges. He is currently represented by Sycamore-based attorney Brian Erwin and his case is being handled by Circuit Court Judge Joseph Pedersen. If convicted, Hollingsworth could face a life sentence in jail.
The DeKalb Police Department emphasized that the incident was isolated and did not pose a broader threat to the community. Police Chief David Byrd acknowledged the swift arrest and expressed hope that justice would be served in the case.
