Willis Ellis, 58, was convicted of second-degree murder for fatally shooting his neighbor during a cookout for his wife and in-laws on Mother's Day weekend in Joliet, Illinois, authorities said.
Ellis called 911 himself after the shooting, telling dispatchers he had shot someone, according to police reports. When officers arrived at the home in the 200 block of Nicholson Street around 4:30 p.m. May 8, they found 60-year-old Lyndon Hunt with a gunshot wound to his stomach.
Background
Paramedics rushed Hunt to the hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. Ellis was arrested at the scene without incident. Both men lived in the same apartment complex on Joliet's southeast side, records show.
The confrontation began when Ellis was grilling outdoors for his family during the Mother's Day weekend celebration, according to trial testimony and a video recording shown to jurors. Hunt had been working on fishing poles nearby when he approached Ellis and began hurling insults at him.
Prosecutors alleged that Hunt challenged Ellis to a physical fight but never advanced toward him or made any overt aggressive movements. The video captured the entire encounter, prosecutors noted during closing arguments.
The Investigation
The Will County State's Attorney's Office charged Ellis with first-degree murder, which was later reduced to second-degree murder at trial. A jury found Ellis guilty of the lesser charge after deliberating for several hours.
During his own testimony, Ellis claimed he felt threatened by Hunt and believed the victim was about to follow through on his challenge to fight, according to courtroom reports from Shaw Local. However, prosecutors pointed out that the video footage showed Ellis laughing during the confrontation, which appeared inconsistent with his claim of fearing for his safety.
Ellis admitted under cross-examination that he had also made threats toward Hunt during the encounter. Defense attorneys argued their client acted in self-defense after being provoked and verbally assaulted while hosting family.
Key Takeaways
- Willis Ellis was convicted of second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of neighbor Lyndon Hunt, 60, in Joliet, Illinois
- The shooting occurred May 8 during a Mother's Day weekend cookout at Ellis's residence
- A video shown to jurors captured Hunt insulting Ellis and challenging him to a fight, but prosecutors said Hunt never approached or physically threatened Ellis
- Ellis called 911 himself after the shooting and was arrested at the scene; he remains held in Will County Jail
- Prosecutors highlighted that the video showed Ellis laughing during the incident, contradicting his self-defense claim that he acted out of fear
What's Next
Sentencing for Ellis is scheduled to be determined by a Will County judge. His defense team has indicated they are reviewing potential grounds for appeal. The case remains pending as both sides await the court's determination on how much prison time Ellis will serve for his second-degree murder conviction.
Hunt, who was known affectionately by friends and family as "Lightbulb," was remembered in an obituary as a man proud of his Chicago roots whose legacy was shaped by meaningful relationships with loved ones.