Austin McAllister

Austin McAllister was a U.S. Army veteran, a personal trainer, and a devoted father of six who was remembered by his family as a hero and a ray of sunshine. The 38-year-old Black man was working hard to provide for his children, who had lost their mother to COVID-19 in 2022. His sister, Denotra Allen, described him as a man who was simply trying to make an honest living. "He wasn't out there partying," she said. "He wasn't drinking. He was out there working for his kids and for himself." Tragically, his life was cut short on the very day his family was marking the one-year anniversary of his own mother's passing.

In the early hours of New Year's Day 2023, Austin was working as a bouncer at the Lyon's Den Hookah Lounge, located in the 2100 block of West Division Street in Chicago's Ukrainian Village neighborhood. At around 1:30 a.m., a man who was refused entry tried to force his way into the BYOB establishment with a gun. An exchange of gunfire followed, and Austin was struck multiple times. He was rushed to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A second man, 26, was shot in the calf and was last reported in good condition. Austin's twin brother, Alan McAllister, was also working at the lounge that night and witnessed the shooting.

The loss was devastating for Austin's family. Alan, also a veteran, mourned his brother deeply, holding onto his coat and necklace. "He was just an amazing person to me. He was my hero, somebody I spent a lot of time with. Somebody who really gave me strength and encouragement, and believed me," Alan said. "I just want to tell you, brother. I love you, and I respect you, and I can't wait to see you again." Austin's sister lamented the cruel irony of his death. "He got hurt in Iraq to come home to Chicago and be killed, because he turned a patron away from the hookah lounge?" she said.

The Chicago Police Department launched an investigation, reviewing surveillance video that showed the suspect fleeing the scene in a light-colored SUV. In February 2023, authorities publicly identified 31-year-old Jimmy Chamberlain as the man wanted in connection with Austin's murder and asked for the public's help in finding him. It was later revealed that Chamberlain was on parole at the time of the shooting. The shooting also brought intense scrutiny upon the Lyon's Den Hookah Lounge, which had been the subject of community complaints regarding noise and safety. Alderman Brian Hopkins called for a summary closure of the business, but the police superintendent at the time decided against it.

More than six months after the shooting, in July 2023, Jimmy Chamberlain was arrested. He was charged with the first-degree murder of Austin McAllister and the attempted murder of the other man who was wounded in the incident. The case proceeded through the court system, and on September 19, a Cook County jury found Chamberlain guilty of both charges. The conviction brought a measure of relief to a family and community that had been waiting for justice.

On a Friday in July 2026, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Arthur Wesley Willis sentenced Jimmy Chamberlain to a total of 63 years in prison. The sentence consisted of 55 years for the murder conviction and a consecutive eight-year term for the attempted murder conviction. Following years of community meetings and pressure from neighbors after Austin's death, the city revoked the business license for the Lyon's Den Hookah Lounge in March 2025.

The legal proceedings in Austin McAllister's case are now closed. While his family continues to navigate their profound loss, the man responsible for his death has been held accountable. Austin is remembered as a loving father and a hero who served his country, only to be killed while protecting others at his job. His brother Alan believed the sunshine after his death was a reflection of Austin's spirit, saying, "that's how much he would brighten up my world."