Opening statements in trial of man accused of execution-style murder in Chinatown

CHICAGO (WGN) — Opening statements began Monday in the trial of Alphonso Joyner, accused of murdering a 71-year-old man in Chinatown in 2021.

Years later, a motive in the fatal shooting remains unclear.

At the Leighton Criminal Courts Building, Joyner faces charges realted to the brazen, execution style murder of Woom Sing Tse. According to police, Tse was out for his daily walk in the 200 block of West 23rd Place around noon on Dec. 7, 2021 when shots rang out from a silver sedan.

Authorities say Joyner then exited the vehicle and reshot Tse, firing more than 20 bullets in total, before driving off. Joyner was arrested shortly thereafter on the Kennedy Expressway.

“Why did this happen to him?” the victim’s family told WGN-TV in a sitdown interview last Thursday, on the eve of jury selection. Woom Sing Tse’s loved ones arrived for courtroom proceedings Monday, for the expectant three-day long trial.

Loved ones say Woom Sing Tse did not know the Joyner. The victim’s wallet was still on him and its contents intact as well.

Joyner, now 27, has remained in police custody following his arrest.

In opening statements, public defenders contendied that no one reported witnessing the shooting. Prosecutors, however, focused on showing jurors video evidence of Chinatown’s extensive network of both public and private surveillance cameras.

The surveillance, county prosecutors believe, will provide key evidence, and hopefully some answers, in a case where many questions remain. Prosecutors also revealed in court on Oct. 20 that they will introduce DNA evidence that they hope will tie the defendant to the alleged murder weapon. 

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Domenica Stephenson is presiding over the trial. Proceedings resume on Wednesday, Oct. 22.