Harvey man convicted for 2020 New Lenox gas station murder

A man from Harvey was found guilty of murder on Wednesday for the shooting death of 19-year-old Charles Baird at a gas station in New Lenox. Baird's family had been waiting almost five years for justice after he was shot outside a Circle K gas station in May 2020. Charles Baird's mother, Jennifer Baird, expressed relief after the verdict. She described the anxiety she felt when she first learned of her son’s shooting. “Now we can sleep a little easier knowing that Charlie’s killer is going to be behind bars,” she said. The defendant, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, was convicted after a six-day trial. He faces two counts of first-degree murder. The judge based her decision on various evidence, including security footage, DNA, and eyewitness testimony. On the day of the shooting, Charles had just shared a Mother's Day dinner with his family before he returned to the gas station to retrieve his wallet. Witnesses said that as Charles fled for his life, he was shot in the back. The defendant's attorney argued that a key witness was not reliable. In response, the judge deemed the witness credible, noting that his testimony matched what was seen in the video footage. Sentencing for the defendant is set for May 21. Meanwhile, Charles Baird’s family continues to honor his memory with a memorial at the Circle K gas station. Despite recent challenges, they plan to keep the memorial well-maintained. Jennifer Baird said it symbolizes a celebration of her son's life, and she praised law enforcement for their work in finding his killer.