Twin Brothers Charged in Murder of West Side Mom

Chicago - Twin brothers appeared Friday in bond court on charges they acted together to gun down a young mother in a drive-by last week near a West Side bus shop.

Keith and Kelly Pearson, both 31, are charged with first-degree murder in the Oct. 7 shooting death of Natasha Howliet, according to police News Affairs.

Cook County Judge Israel Desierto ordered Kelly Pearson, the alleged driver of the car the two were in during the shooting, held on $1 million bond. Keith Pearson, the alleged shooter, was denied bond, said Andy Conklin, spokesman for the Cook County State's Attorney's office.

Howliet, of 415 S. Lotus Ave., was shot at 3357 W. Madison St. and was pronounced dead at 8:53 p.m. Oct. 7 at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. An autopsy ruled the death a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the back, the medical examiner's office said.

Police said Howliet was standing on the sidewalk around 8 p.m. when somebody inside a red vehicle pulled a gun and shot her in the shoulder.

In bond court Friday, prosecutors told Desierto that witnesses saw a burgundy Pontiac pull up near the bus stop, Conklin said. Prosecutors believe Keith Pearson fired five to six shots at Howliet from the passenger seat and then Kelly Pearson drove away, Conklin said. Conklin said Keith Pearson admitted to firing the shots.

Keith Pearson, of the 2900 block of West Harrison Street, is a self-admitted member of the Unknown Vice Lords gang, prosecutors and police said. Kelly Pearson's home address is listed in the 1400 block of North Ridgeway Avenue.

Keith Pearson told authorities he was shooting at the Breeds, a rival gang, Conklin said. Witnesses picked both brothers out of photo arrays and a lineup, Conklin said.

Howliet’s Myspace.com profile indicates she graduated from West Town Academy, 2021 W. Fulton St., in 2008 after spending her first two years of high school at Clemente Community Academy, 1147 N. Western Ave.

Howliet lists herself as a “proud parent” interested in basketball and cheerleading, according to the site, which indicated she worked at Kmart.

The Pearsons next court date is Nov. 2 in Violence Court (Br. 66) for a preliminary hearing, Conklin said. He said prosecutors consider this a potential capital case.