Madison County jurors delivered a not guilty verdict June 24 in a first degree murder trial against 21-year-old Willie Matthews Jr., finding he acted in self defense in the shooting death of Charles Cooper two and a half years ago in Granite City.
Matthews’ attorney, Robert Bas of Edwardsville, called his client’s exoneration a “classic example of one man armed with the truth fighting against the awesome power of the State, and winning.”
Bas said Matthews, who was behind bars at the Madison County jail for 20 months, requested a speedy trial so he could tell his side of the story. But because of COVID-19 lockdown orders that affected most aspects of the court system, including jury trials, he had to wait.
Matthews embraced by his mother upon release after spending 20 months in jail
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Late last Thursday night, Associate Judge Neil Schroeder ordered Matthews’ immediate release following a two-day trial and seven hours of jury deliberation.
Bas said that Matthews, who has excelled in athletics and academics, plans to resume his education studying business and marketing. Matthews wants to develop his own line of clothing, and write the code for marketing it online, according to Bas.
Matthews was in fact learning how to write Java code leading up to the night Cooper was shot.
The incident took place Nov. 3, 2019, at the home of Matthews’ sister, Essence Richardson, where Matthews was planning to reside following a year of living between his mother’s and father’s residences. Up until October 2018, Matthews attended Illinois College in Jacksonville, but he left there when his grandmother, whom he was close to, died.
Richardson and Cooper had been dating for some time, though Matthews was unaware of that when he accidentally walked in on them in a bedroom at the back of his sister's house that night. It also wasn’t the first time Matthews and Cooper had encountered one another. Five months earlier, Cooper battered Matthews by brandishing a gun aimed at him, according to Bas.
“Will was not aware that Cooper was at the house when he moved in that day,” Bas said. “He didn't know whether Cooper and his sister were dating.”
Matthews returned to the living room at the front of the house where his belongings were. Cooper followed.
“Will stands up to apologize, but in a fit of rage, Charles pushes him back and he lands on the cushion,” Bas said. “Cooper arm-bars Matthews into his neck and chest, preventing Matthews from escaping the attack.”
Matthews, weighing 190 pounds, was not able to push off Cooper, weighing 314 pounds. Matthews was choking and suffocating, according to Bas.
Matthews pulled Cooper's gun out of his waistband during the attack. A forensic scientist later determined the spent and unspent shell casings returned to a 9mm Luger.
Matthews shot six times. Cooper sustained gunshot wounds to his back, buttocks, posterior thigh, outer thigh and groin.
According to Bas, Matthews wanted to stay to check on Cooper, but Richardson told him to leave. Matthews left with Cooper’s gun and threw it away near his mother’s home.
From there, Matthews went into the hospital for six days, then turned himself in.
Granite City detective Jeff Donahey testified before the grand jury to confirm Richardson told Matthews to leave the house after the shooting. Donahey also testified Matthews was respectful to him when Matthews turned himself in Nov. 15, 2019.
Key testimony in Matthew’s favor came from investigator for the Granite City Fire Department Thomas O’Neil who responded to the scene and observed that one of Cooper’s bullet wounds was still smoking.
That testimony was bolstered by a forensic expert who said that if there is presence of smoke from a wound, the distance between a muzzle and target would be no greater than a foot and as close as a fingernail.
Matthews also testified on behalf of himself. According to Bas, he was very believable and honest as the only eyewitness, as well as the individual who lived through the attack.
For the state, assistant state’s attorneys Lauren Maricle and Morgan Hudson prosecuted the case.
Bas said Matthews was happy to be free, so that he can resume pursuing his goals.
“He’s a smart guy,” Bas said.
Matthews had attended Whitfield Preparatory School in Creve Coeur, but when transportation became a challenge, he transferred to Belleville West High School where he graduated. He carried a GPA of 3.4 and tested high on the SAT.
He had had offers from 40 colleges, but chose Illinois College to be close to home, Bas said. He also attended Lindenwood College in Belleville.