(IL) Woman shoots parolee in home invasion 03-08-03

http://www.pjstar.com/news/topnews/g156219a.html
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Woman fatally shoots parolee during alleged home invasion
Man served time for domestic battery
March 8, 2003
By DAVE HANEY
of the Journal Star

PEORIA – A 26-year-old Peoria man paroled from a southern Illinois
prison on Thursday was shot and killed Friday after allegedly breaking
into the South Peoria home of a woman whom he had once abused and had a
son with, police said.

Chris Winder went to the 1405 S. Easton Ave. home of 29-year-old
Charlotte Gates shortly before 10 a.m. Friday, reportedly kicking open
the front door and fighting with her and Steven Vines, 41, of Rockford,
before Gates was able to get free and grab a handgun.

Gates told police she pulled the trigger one time and it appeared she
had wounded Winder, but that she had no idea the wound was mortal or
where he then ran, police said.

Officers responding to the domestic call at Gates’ home later found
Winder at the rear of the neighboring yard, where it appeared he had
intended to jump a fence when he collapsed, police said.

Winder was unresponsive when officers found him; a member of the Peoria
County Coroner’s Office officially pronounced him dead at 11:25 a.m.
from an apparent single gunshot wound to the chest.

Winder, a slender man who had “Charlotte” tattooed on his right
shoulder, had just been paroled from Big Muddy Correctional Center in
Ina after serving about five months in prison on domestic battery and
aggravated battery charges involving Gates as the victim.

Authorities said the pair had a son together, and that he was home at
the time of the shooting.

Prior to Winder’s latest prison stint, he was indicted by a Peoria
County grand jury on a charge of unlawful possession with intent to
deliver a controlled substance in March of 1994, but that charge was
later dismissed in October of that same year.

Police were still questioning Gates late Friday and wouldn’t say whose
gun it was that was used to shoot Winder, or the exact relationship
between the two, besides the shared parenthood.

Also, police reports did not say what Vines was doing at the home, or
what relationship – if any – he had with either Winder or Gates. Reports
listed Vines as an acquaintance, but did not say of whom.

Police were also unsure what brought Winder to Gates’ home and what the
fighting was about, and did not know how Gates obtained the gun or
whether it was legally registered.
Police said it was unlikely they would book Gates on any charges,
although the final decision is pending further review by the Peoria
County State’s Attorney’s Office.

An autopsy is scheduled for today.