Luther Casteel

Background

Luther Casteel was described by acquaintances as a divorced construction worker.

Police said he had served 13 years in prison on a 1978 armed robbery conviction.

The offence

In 2001, at JB’s Pub in Elgin, Luther Casteel was booted out for harassing female customers and employees. He was described as roaring drunk and enraged.

After he was removed from the bar, Casteel went home, shaved his hair into a mohawk, changed into military fatigues, and armed himself with several guns before returning to the bar. During the attack, he screamed, "I am a natural born killer." Witnesses said he laughed and screamed: "I'm the king, how do you like me now?"

Casteel shot bartender Jeffrey Weides and customer Richard Bartlett to death. He also wounded multiple other people before he was wrestled to the ground by bar patrons and employees. The attack occurred at the Elgin bar and was described as a crowded bar shooting.

Investigation

Police said that employees had ordered Casteel to leave JB’s Pub, and that he returned with several guns.

Police said Casteel was an ex-con obsessed with guns and the movie "Natural Born Killers" and that he shaved his head and donned fatigues before the attack.

Police said Casteel returned carrying two handguns, two shotguns and 200 rounds of live ammunition.

Arrest

After he started shooting, bar patrons and employees wrestled Casteel to the ground.

Trial

At his trial, Casteel almost dared a Kane County jury to impose the death penalty. Casteel said:

"I'm not someone who asks for mercy or pity for my actions," he said during a stunning half hour of testimony. "I have absolutely no fear of anything anyone can put upon me."

A Kane County jury found him guilty of 35 of 37 charges stemming from the April 14 shootings at the Elgin bar.

Jurors found Casteel guilty of first-degree murder for the deaths of patron Richard Bartlett and bar manager Jeffrey Weides.

Casteel was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and other charges.

Sentencing

Casteel was sentenced to death in 2002.

Appeals

On January 12, 2003, Casteel’s sentence was commuted to life in prison without parole.

Outcome

Casteel was convicted on 35 of the 37 charges stemming from the April 14 shootings at the Elgin bar, including first-degree murder convictions for the deaths of Richard Bartlett and Jeffrey Weides.

Other details

The victims were bartender Jeff Weides, 38, and patron Richard Bartlett, 48, both of Elgin. The shootings were described as occurring about 35 miles west of Chicago.

Police said that two people were killed and 16 others were wounded by gunfire, and that at least 21 other people were injured. Another figure given in coverage was that at least 16 others were wounded and that two people were killed before he was subdued by customers.