BLK95TA
07-21-2009, 12:04 PM
i just found out about this last night...
http://www.post-trib.com/news/lake/1676068,wincharges.article
WINFIELD -- The Lake County Prosecutor's office charged a 26-year-old Crown Point man with murder Monday, after he admitted to shooting a 45-year-old Lakes of the Four Seasons man early Sunday, according to the prosecutor's office.
Daniel Robert Mola is being held without bond in the Lake County Jail in the shooting death of Christopher Elkins, 45, of Lakes of the Four Seasons outside Buddy & Pals Too bar and grill, 10685 Randolph St.
Daniel Mola
http://media1.post-trib.com/multimedia/721mola.jpg_20090721_09_54_22_2057-400-281.imageContent
Mola admitted in a statement that after a confrontation in the bar, "I reached in my pocket and grabbed my .38 because I was going to confront him. I lost my temper and followed him outside."
Mola then said Elkins turned and came toward him and he shot Elkins twice in the abdomen, according to police.
Mola's initial hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. today in the Magistrate's courtroom of the Lake County Jail. If convicted of murder, Mola faces up to 65 years in prison.
According to a Lake Superior Court probable cause affidavit, officers were called to the bar at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday where they found emergency personnel working on Elkins in the parking lot, and Mola nearby, who was restrained by bar employees and patrons.
Elkins was transported to St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart where he was pronounced dead at 2:32 a.m.
An eyewitness told Lake County Police that he saw Elkins and Mola arguing, and bouncers moved between the men when Elkins made a kicking motion, according to the affidavit.
Elkins went back to his table, then left, kicking Mola's stool, the witness said. Mola pulled out a gun, cocked it, and went after Elkins.
The witness tried to get the bouncer's attention, then heard and saw two shots and Elkins fall to the pavement.
Mola told prosecutor's office officials that Elkins began talking to him and said he would be easy to take, then slapped him, knocking off his sunglasses and later kicking his chair.
Lake County Sheriff's Chief Marco Kuyachich said Sunday that Mola had had a previous run-in with police.
Crown Point Police Chief Pete Land said his department brought a case against Mola to the prosecutor's office in July 2008 after Mola was suspected of shooting a friend in the foot.
"But our victim refused to cooperate," Land said.
Winfield Councilwoman Paulette Skinner said she did not have enough information on Sunday's shooting to comment.
"Tim (Heidbreder, Buddy & Pals owner) has always run a good, clean business," Skinner said. "It's been an asset to the town of Winfield."
Councilman Michael Lambert, a defense attorney, said he was, "just as shocked as everybody else. I've lived here my entire life and never heard of a homicide. I frequent Buddy and Pals and I'm glad staff acted the way they did.
"I've never heard a single complaint about Buddy & Pals since they've been established. It's the neighborhood watering hole."
Buddy and Pals owner Tim Heidbreder could not be reached for comment. The bar is scheduled for a renewal of its liquor license before the Alcoholic Beverage Board of Lake County Aug. 4.
Elkins' wife of six years, Patti, said her husband, a graduate of Boone Grove High School, was a wonderful husband, father and friend.
"I don't know anybody he didn't get along with," she said. "I talked to him 20 minutes before it happened. He was in a good mood. He was golfing in a charity even to benefit families of injured Marines."
Christopher Elkins was also active in the lives of his five children, Patti Elkins said.
"It's going to affect a lot of people," she said.
Patti Elkins said she believes her husband's death may have been prevented if guns were not allowed in bars.
"Why would anyone need to carry a gun in a bar in a suburb where families are there to have a good time?" she said.
Visitation and a funeral service are set for Christopher Elkins from 2-6 p.m. Wednesday, at Burns Funeral Home, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point, Patti Elkins said.
Contact Diane Krieger Spivak at 648-3076 or dspivak@post-trib.com Comment on this story at www.post-trib.com.
http://www.post-trib.com/news/lake/1676068,wincharges.article
WINFIELD -- The Lake County Prosecutor's office charged a 26-year-old Crown Point man with murder Monday, after he admitted to shooting a 45-year-old Lakes of the Four Seasons man early Sunday, according to the prosecutor's office.
Daniel Robert Mola is being held without bond in the Lake County Jail in the shooting death of Christopher Elkins, 45, of Lakes of the Four Seasons outside Buddy & Pals Too bar and grill, 10685 Randolph St.
Daniel Mola
http://media1.post-trib.com/multimedia/721mola.jpg_20090721_09_54_22_2057-400-281.imageContent
Mola admitted in a statement that after a confrontation in the bar, "I reached in my pocket and grabbed my .38 because I was going to confront him. I lost my temper and followed him outside."
Mola then said Elkins turned and came toward him and he shot Elkins twice in the abdomen, according to police.
Mola's initial hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. today in the Magistrate's courtroom of the Lake County Jail. If convicted of murder, Mola faces up to 65 years in prison.
According to a Lake Superior Court probable cause affidavit, officers were called to the bar at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday where they found emergency personnel working on Elkins in the parking lot, and Mola nearby, who was restrained by bar employees and patrons.
Elkins was transported to St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart where he was pronounced dead at 2:32 a.m.
An eyewitness told Lake County Police that he saw Elkins and Mola arguing, and bouncers moved between the men when Elkins made a kicking motion, according to the affidavit.
Elkins went back to his table, then left, kicking Mola's stool, the witness said. Mola pulled out a gun, cocked it, and went after Elkins.
The witness tried to get the bouncer's attention, then heard and saw two shots and Elkins fall to the pavement.
Mola told prosecutor's office officials that Elkins began talking to him and said he would be easy to take, then slapped him, knocking off his sunglasses and later kicking his chair.
Lake County Sheriff's Chief Marco Kuyachich said Sunday that Mola had had a previous run-in with police.
Crown Point Police Chief Pete Land said his department brought a case against Mola to the prosecutor's office in July 2008 after Mola was suspected of shooting a friend in the foot.
"But our victim refused to cooperate," Land said.
Winfield Councilwoman Paulette Skinner said she did not have enough information on Sunday's shooting to comment.
"Tim (Heidbreder, Buddy & Pals owner) has always run a good, clean business," Skinner said. "It's been an asset to the town of Winfield."
Councilman Michael Lambert, a defense attorney, said he was, "just as shocked as everybody else. I've lived here my entire life and never heard of a homicide. I frequent Buddy and Pals and I'm glad staff acted the way they did.
"I've never heard a single complaint about Buddy & Pals since they've been established. It's the neighborhood watering hole."
Buddy and Pals owner Tim Heidbreder could not be reached for comment. The bar is scheduled for a renewal of its liquor license before the Alcoholic Beverage Board of Lake County Aug. 4.
Elkins' wife of six years, Patti, said her husband, a graduate of Boone Grove High School, was a wonderful husband, father and friend.
"I don't know anybody he didn't get along with," she said. "I talked to him 20 minutes before it happened. He was in a good mood. He was golfing in a charity even to benefit families of injured Marines."
Christopher Elkins was also active in the lives of his five children, Patti Elkins said.
"It's going to affect a lot of people," she said.
Patti Elkins said she believes her husband's death may have been prevented if guns were not allowed in bars.
"Why would anyone need to carry a gun in a bar in a suburb where families are there to have a good time?" she said.
Visitation and a funeral service are set for Christopher Elkins from 2-6 p.m. Wednesday, at Burns Funeral Home, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point, Patti Elkins said.
Contact Diane Krieger Spivak at 648-3076 or dspivak@post-trib.com Comment on this story at www.post-trib.com.