Suspect in deadly mass shooting at Rockford bowling alley is now on fourth attorney
Duke Webb, the Florida man accused of killing three people in a mass shooting inside Don Carter Lanes in Rockford more than three years ago, is now on his fourth attorney.
Webb, 40, has most recently hired Andrea Lyon of Chicago. Lyon entered her appearance on Dec. 8, 2023, according to court records.
Lyon is the third private attorney to represent Webb, a former Green Beret, since he was arrested at the scene of the shooting. Webb was initially represented by Ela Bucko of Granger Law Group in Rockford.
Bucko was replaced in February 2021 by Chicago attorney Damon Cheronis, who was on the case until last December. Webb was also briefly a client of the Winnebago County Public Defender's Office.
More: Lawyers seek mental health analysis of Green Beret accused in mass shooting in Rockford
Cheronis withdrew from the case six months after now-retired Judge Joe McGraw ordered Webb to stop filing letters and motions outside the purview of his attorney.
"He wants to file things in spite of the fact that he is represented by counsel, and in spite of the fact that there is a pending fitness examination," McGraw wrote in a case management order.
Court records show that three fitness hearings to determine whether Webb is mentally competent to stand trial have been rescheduled. Each attorney change has resulted in continuances and delays to give new counsel time to review discovery and prepare for the hearing, which is now scheduled in May.
Webb is accused of opening fire on Dec. 26, 2020, inside the bowling alley. A criminal complaint alleges that he was armed with two handguns when the started shooting on the first floor, wounding two 14-year-olds who were waiting for takeout orders. He allegedly killed 65-year-old Thomas Furseth as he made his way to the upstairs bar, where he allegedly fired several rounds, killing 73-year-old Dennis Steinhoff and 69-year-old Jerome Woodfork.
Woodfork's body was found in the parking lot. Witnesses told police they saw him fall from a balcony after being shot. A sixth victim, 62-year-old Tyrone Lewis, suffered five gunshot wounds and survived.
Webb, who did four tours in Afghanistan, was an assistant operations and intelligence sergeant assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), located at Camp Bull Simons, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He was on leave visiting family in Rockford at the time of the shooting.
Webb is currently charged with 33 counts of first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated battery with a firearm. He has pleaded not guilty.
Jim Hagerty is a growth and development reporter for the Rockford Register Star. He covers a variety of news and business topics. Email him at jhagerty@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Trial still pending for deadly mass shooting at Rockford bowling alley
