Julius E. Burkes Jr., 47, was arrested Tuesday in the fatal, 'execution-style' shooting of 30-year-old bar owner Courtney M. Drysdale inside her Momence, Illinois bar. Surveillance footage showed a suspect in a bright yellow jacket who attempted to remove a recording device before fleeing to Indiana. Burkes was apprehended leaving his Hammond, Indiana home about 26 hours after the crime and is being held pending extradition to Illinois. Court records show he has a decades-long criminal history, including a 2014 battery conviction and a 1995 juvenile guilty plea to two counts of felony murder.
Man Arrested After 'Execution-Style' Killing Of Illinois Bar Owner; Suspect Has Decades-Long Record
Illinois bar owner killed in 'execution-style' shooting, suspect with decades-long criminal record in custody
Authorities arrested a 47-year-old man Tuesday in connection with the fatal shooting of a 30-year-old bar owner who investigators say was killed in an 'execution-style' attack inside her business.
What Happened
Courtney M. Drysdale, 30, was shot just before noon Monday inside The Line, a small bar she owned in rural Momence, Illinois, near the Indiana border. According to the Kankakee County Sheriff's Department, Drysdale was opening the bar when a man entered, brandished a firearm and demanded money. Although she complied, investigators say the suspect shot her twice and fled the scene.
Authorities released surveillance photos of the suspect wearing a bright yellow jacket. Julius E. Burkes Jr., 47, was taken into custody, pictured right, on Tuesday in connection with the murder of Drysdale.(Fox News)
Evidence And Surveillance
Detectives recovered surveillance footage that showed a suspect wearing a bright yellow jacket, hat and glasses, and driving a white BMW. Authorities say the suspect attempted to remove a video recording device from the bar before crossing into Indiana.
Arrest And Investigation
Police arrested Julius E. Burkes Jr., 47, as he was leaving his Hammond, Indiana, residence about 26 hours after the killing. The sheriff's office credited numerous public tips and a coordinated response by federal, state and local law enforcement for the swift apprehension.
Authorities said the suspect was seen leaving the area in a white BMW.
'We hope that in some way the apprehension of this monster will bring some sort of peace to Courtney’s family, friends and community,' the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Suspect's Criminal History
Court records obtained by WGNTV indicate Burkes has a decades-long criminal record. The documents include a 2014 battery conviction for which he completed 12 months of supervised release. They also show a 1995 guilty plea to two counts of felony murder when he was about 15 years old and a subsequent 37-year sentence; details about his specific role in that incident were not immediately available. Authorities say he was also reportedly out on bond in an alleged December break-in case at the time of Drysdale's death.
Current Status
Burkes is being held in Indiana and is awaiting an extradition hearing to be returned to Illinois to face charges in connection with the killing.
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