A Calumet City man was ordered held on $1 million bond Saturday in the death of a jewelry store owner during a robbery, authorities said.
Police say Ronald L. Battle, 21, of the 500 block of Forsythe Avenue shot James Johns, 56, May 29 at Gold and Diamond Connection in Calumet City, officials said.
“He went in with the hope of stealing jewelry to pay a drug debt,” said Tom Stanton, a spokesman for the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.
Witnesses saw a black Ford leave the shop, in the 900 block of Burnham Avenue, and the owner of an auto yard contacted authorities after hearing media reports about the incident. “He thought he had the car in his lot,” Stanton said.
Police linked plates on the car to Battle’s mother, and Battle was arrested in Chicago at the home of an uncle, Stanton said. His next court date is June 26 in Markham.
