Two Men Charged in Double Murder

Michael Laster

According to a statement issued this morning by the Chicago Police Department, two men -- one from West Ridge and one from Edgewater -- have been charged with two counts each of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of two men on Winthrop earlier this week.  They are:

• Michael Laster, age 28, of the 6100 Block of N. Seeley, and
• Jonathon Thompson, age 33, of the 5400 Block of N. Kenmore

They appear in Bond Court at 26th & Cal today.

Jonathon Thompson

The police statement reads: "Michael Laster and Jonathon Thompson were arrested after they were identified as the men who shot and killed two men in the 5000 block of N. Winthrop on September 2, 2015 at approximately 2:15 a.m. Responding officers discovered two unresponsive males, ages 32 and 34. Both victims were taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. Both men were later pronounced.  Laster and Thompson were charged accordingly. No further information is available at this time."

A reminder that they are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.  We're sure the 20th District Court Advocates will be following these cases as they make their way through the court system.

Update:  The victims are identified as Robert Anderson, 32, and Michael Gibbs, 34. The Tribune has details about the murders and what led to it.