Monday brought yet another delay in the case against Sisto Brito, the man charged with murder in the February 2024 shooting death of a Blue Island man in McCook.
Brito appeared before Cook County Circuit Court Judge John “Terry” Gallagher in Room 110 at the Bridgeview Courthouse for a status hearing that lasted about two minutes.
An assistant state’s attorney told Gallagher: “We are still in discovery and we’re also negotiating with the defense.”
The word “negotiating” signals that prosecutors and the defense are discussing a possible plea bargain for Brito, of Chicago, who is charged with the murder of Morales Ricardo Lopez.
After the hearing, Brito’s defense attorney, Damon Cheronis, said the delay was routine.
“It happens. It’s not unusual,” he said when asked about the need for more discovery.
“We have the vast majority of discovery (that we need). They haven’t told me what they need,” Cheronis said.
Brito, who has been in the Cook County Jail since Feb. 18, 2024, is also charged with two counts of attempted murder, one for the shooting of Lopez, one for the shooting Daniel Nava Jr., who survived being shot in the head.
The shootings occurred early on Feb. 17, 2024, on the west side of Joliet Avenue just north of Joliet Road, following an argument in the parking lot of a McCook tavern on nearby 47th Street.
Police said Brito had argued and physically fought with three men who objected to how he parked his vehicle and made comments to him.
After the fight seemingly ended, Brito retrieved a handgun from his car, police said.
One man ran north on Joliet Avenue and was not harmed. Brito pursued Lopez and Nava, who ran south, and shot them, police said.
Police said Brito had no prior criminal record.
The next status hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Sept. 30 in Room 110.
No family members of Lopez attended Monday’s hearing. Nava, who sometimes attends with his parents, was not there.