CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) -
A 20-year-old friend who lives just yards from the spot where former CPS basketball star Michael Haynes was fatally shot was ordered held without bond Thursday after being charged with Haynes' murder.
Cinque Lee of the 11600 block of South Vincennes is accused of gunning down the 22-year-old late last month. Haynes was days away from moving to New York to play Division 1 college ball when he was killed trying to break up a fight over a stolen necklace, according to his family.
On Thursday, prosecutors said Lee, Haynes and all the witnesses in the case were longtime friends, the Sun-Times is reporting.
As their friends argued over the necklace earlier in the day on July 26, Lee offered one of those sparring a gun. Later that evening, Haynes told Lee he was wrong to take out a gun since they were all friends.
Haynes ended up punching Lee, which prompted him to shoot Haynes four to five times, prosecutors said.
Neither relatives for Haynes nor Lee were at the bond hearing.
On Wednesday, Haynes' relatives said they were relieved that Lee was in custody.
"It's about time," said Haynes' cousin Kandice Blouin, 25. "They should have picked him up the first night we told them [who did it].
"Everyone will be relieved as long as he's charged."
Haynes died a little more than an hour after was shot in the wrist, chest and lower back around 5:10 p.m., officials say.
A witness told the Sun-Times several men were shoving each other when Michael Haynes pushed the shooter, who pulled out a gun and shot him.
Haynes' basketball career involved multiple high schools and colleges. In May, he committed to Iona College in New York and it looked like his dream of playing Division I was finally coming true.
As a freshman in high school, he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds at Corliss High School. In his sophomore year, he teamed with Deandre Liggins at Washington and led the Minutemen to the city championship game at the United Center, where they lost to Simeon and Derrick Rose.
His brother, Brian Haynes, 21, remains in Cook County Jail charged with four counts of home invasion with the discharge of a firearm after he allegedly forced his way into a home near the murder scene — apparently looking for revenge for his brother's slaying — and threatened to shoot four people, prosecutors said last week.
