Teen charged with Bolingbrook triple murder pleads not guilty in first court appearance
A 17-year-old accused of first-degree murder in the weekend slayings of a man, female teen and a girl inside a Bolingbrook home appeared before a Will County judge on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him stemming from the deadly home invasion.
Byrion Montgomery, 17, of Bolingbrook, who was in shackles and wearing a blue jail uniform, did not say much in his first court appearance before Judge Dave Carlson at the Will County Courthouse.
When Carlson asked the teen if he understood that he was being charged as an adult in the case, Montgomery said, "Yes." He furtively waved his hands at least twice at someone in the gallery during Tuesday's court hearing.
Montgomery, who was detained by police Sunday night, did not have a private attorney. He was assigned Will County Assistant Public Defender Chris Benson. His court date is scheduled for March 30.
Benson told Carlson that his client will enter a plea of not guilty to the charges against him.
Cartez Daniels, 40, Samiya Shelton-Tillman, 17, and Sanai Daniels were killed at the Lee Lane residence in Bolingbrook. Cartez Daniels was shot and stabbed, while Shelton-Tillman and Sanai Daniels were shot, authorities said.
Montgomery also has been charged with attempted murder in the shooting of Tania Stewart, who was in the home, and with home invasion, aggravated battery and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Two boys, ages 3 and 14, also inside the home at the time of the shooting were unharmed.
Police and prosecutors have not released further details on the motive or the events leading up to the Sunday shooting and stabbing.
Bolingbrook police officials have said Montgomery was in a dating relationship with Shelton-Tillman and the case is considered a domestic-related home invasion.
After Tuesday's court hearing, Will County Assistant State's Attorney Peter Wilkes told reporters he couldn't discuss the facts or a possible motive in the case as it was still under investigation.
"It's an ongoing process," Wilkes said.
Wilkes said the criminal complaint filed Monday contains the initial charges and the "full set of the charges" against Montgomery are expected to be filed by March 30.
Valley View Unit District 365 Superintendent Rachel Kinder released a statement on the deaths of Shelton Tillman and Daniels:
"Two of the victims who lost their lives are Valley View School District students. The VVSD community is shocked and saddened by the loss of two of our students. We have reached out to the families involved to express our condolences and to offer our support as they experience this devastating loss," Kinder said. "In addition, we have initiated the District Crisis Response Plan to support our school communities and families that have been greatly impacted by this senseless act of violence."
A candlelight vigil has been planned for the family and friends of the victims at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the grounds of the DuPage Township Center, 241 Canterbury Lane, Bolingbrook.