Accused carjacker pleads not guilty to murder

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Kerwin Murry

Updated: March 2, 2012 8:13AM

The man accused of fatally shooting a Waukegan man in a carjacking incident pleaded not guilty to nine counts of first-degree murder at his arraignment Tuesday.

Kerwin Murry, 21, faces life in prison because he is accused of personally discharging the firearm that took the life of Carlos Hernandez, 44, Lake County Circuit Court Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak said.

Murry and co-defendant Fredrick Smith, 23, allegedly held Hernandez up at gunpoint, drove him two blocks away his home at 417 Hickory St., Waukegan, and wound up shooting him in the stomach and left shoulder, authorities said.

Police found three suspects at Lakeside Tower. Murry was found inside shaving his head. Smith was hiding in the building’s ventilation. The third subject, whose name has not been released, was freed from police custody due to lack of evidence, police said.

Murry told police he had killed someone, a prosecutor had said at Murry’s bond hearing in late December.

Murry is due back in court Feb. 14. A trial date was scheduled for March 12.

Smith is scheduled for arraignment Thursday, Feb. 2.

Both men are in custody at Lake County Jail in lieu of $5 million bonds each.

Murry will remain in Administration Segregation Unit in isolation from fellow jail inmates through Feb. 10 due to a Jan. 7 incident, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Christopher Thompson.

Murry was in his cell pod and became disruptive Jan. 7. He was then locked down for disrespecting the sergeant on duty.

Thompson then said Murry began screaming in his cell. A jail hearing was held and Murry was ordered to spend 35 days in ASU away from the other inmates, Thompson said.