Lawrence McNeal, a 64-year-old African American man, was fatally shot on October 25, 2020, in the Brainerd neighborhood of Chicago. He was talking to someone he knew in a car in the 9000 block of South Laflin Street when shots were fired. McNeal was struck in the face and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead; an autopsy ruled his death a homicide and Area Two detectives opened the investigation.

Prosecutors say the suspect is 76-year-old Jesse Howard, who had allegedly bought cigarettes from McNeal for years. On the day of the shooting Howard refused to pay for a pack, then took the cigarettes and got into his parked Cadillac. McNeal followed; a witness reported hearing McNeal say he was going to break Howard’s window. As McNeal tried to free his wrist from the car window, Howard allegedly shot him. Howard was stopped about 10 minutes later in a blood-spattered Cadillac; police recovered an unopened pack of cigarettes and a revolver in the car. Howard reportedly admitted to detectives that he shot McNeal and expressed regret that he should have robbed McNeal of all his money and cigarettes. He was held without bail pending trial.

What did neighbors or anyone who knew McNeal notice around South Laflin Street that afternoon?