CHICAGO – A Chicago man has pleaded guilty to fatally shooting his own brother while out on bail for an ongoing gun case three years ago.
Daron Hardy, 28, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter in exchange for a 20-year prison sentence from Judge William Gamboney, court records show.
After police allegedly caught Hardy with a gun at a gas station in June 2021, Judge Susana Ortiz sent him home based on a recognition tape.
“Mr. Hardy, you may not be in possession of any weapons or firearms,” Ortiz instructed during his first court appearance. “Do you understand?”
“I have one [license to own firearms]But ma’am,’ replied Hardy. “How does that work?”
“And I’m your judge and I’ll tell you the terms of your bond. Do you understand me?”
“I was just asking.”
“Right,” Ortiz continued. “How that works is I say you can’t own firearms. Do you understand?”
Prosecutors said a witness and Hardy returned to Hardy’s home early one morning in February 2022 after a night out at a bar. They were hanging out with Hardy’s brother, Darnell, 26, but the brothers began arguing and then physically fought with each other, prosecutors said.
At one point, Daron Hardy fell and his brother punched him in the face several times before retreating to a bedroom and closing the door.
Daron Hardy allegedly grabbed a gun and fired a shot through the door. He then kicked open the door and shot Darnell Hardy once in the chest, prosecutors alleged.
Darnell died at the scene.
Hardy is expected to be released from prison in September 2034.
