A man is being held on a $5 million bond after prosecutors say he “pummeled” his brother to death during a verbal argument at a home in Gurnee on Christmas Day.
Kevin N. Biron-Bomis, 50, of Gurnee, was charged with one count of first-degree murder.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Stephen Scheller said officers responded around 2 a.m. on Sunday to Biron-Bomis’ home, which is in the 1000 block of Boulevard View in Gurnee.
Biron-Bomis told officers he thought he killed his brother.
Paramedics transported the 47-year-old victim to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan where he was pronounced dead.
Biron-Bomis initially claimed self-defense by telling the police he had gotten into a fight with his brother, who allegedly came at him, leading him to sit on top of his brother until he was not breathing.
Officers took Biron-Bomis into custody and transported him to the Gurnee Police Department where he was interviewed by detectives.
Biron-Bomis said he was with his brother earlier in the day and the two went to several bars in Waukegan for drinks, Scheller said during a bond hearing.
Bar employees eventually told Biron-Bomis that his brother was acting up and he needed to leave the bar.
Biron-Bomis, who was a regular at the bar, became embarrassed by his brother’s actions, Scheller said.
The two of them left the bar, began arguing and proceeded to go to Biron-Bomis’ house.
Biron-Bomis said that his brother tried to punch him and he sat on his brother’s chest and punched him so many times that the victim stopped breathing, Scheller said.
Biron-Bomis said he then stood up and kicked his brother before calling 911.
While in custody, Biron-Bomis gave detectives a second statement on Monday, Scheller said.
He said that the two had been verbally arguing after arriving at the residence.
Once they were inside the foyer area, Biron-Bomis shook his brother’s hand and told him “it was not a big deal,” Scheller said.
He allegedly punched his brother, who fell to the ground.
The brother got back up and Biron-Bomis punched his brother again before getting on top of him and “pummeling” him until he died, Scheller said.
Prosecutors said Biron-Bomis is a registered violent offender due to a previous criminal conviction for strangling a 7-year-old child in Lake County.
He also has a felony conviction for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in Lake County.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Biron-Bomis held on a $5 million bond. Prosecutors did not ask the judge to hold the man without bond.
The man remains held in the Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on January 25 for a preliminary hearing.