A small Illinois community is reeling after prosecutors revealed chilling details about the fatal shooting of a 30-year-old bar owner — allegedly at the hands of a man she once worked with.
Julius Burkes Jr., 47, appeared in Kankakee County court on Wednesday after being charged with the murder of Courtney Drysdale, who was shot and killed as she opened her bar, The Line, in Momence, Illinois.
During the hearing, prosecutors said Burkes and Drysdale had previously been co-workers years earlier, when the bar operated under a different name and owner. According to First Assistant State’s Attorney Carol Costello, in 2019 Drysdale told the former owner that Burkes was stealing money — an accusation that reportedly cost him his job.
Nearly six years later, prosecutors allege Burkes returned.
Costello told the court that Burkes “crossed state lines” from Hammond, Indiana, where he lives, back into Illinois to rob the bar and execute Drysdale. “He planned it out,” she said.
As previously reported, Drysdale was found dead inside The Line on Feb. 2. Surveillance footage from inside the bar reportedly shows that just seven minutes after she opened at 11 a.m., Burkes entered and pointed a firearm at her.
According to prosecutors, Burkes ordered Drysdale around the bar for several minutes while removing items from the cash register and office area. He allegedly forced her to sit on the floor behind the bar.
At 11:13 a.m., prosecutors said, Burkes shot Drysdale once in the head. Surveillance footage allegedly shows her body collapsing to the floor.
Costello told the court that Burkes began to leave — but then returned seconds later.
“Fifteen seconds later, he walks back towards her, reaches over the bar, and again, execution style, shoots her a second time in her head,” she said.
He then allegedly fled the scene in a white BMW.
Authorities arrested Burkes at his home in Hammond, Indiana, on Feb. 3, a day after the killing. Police said they received numerous tips after releasing video footage from the bar.
Prosecutors also revealed that about an hour after the shooting, investigators located a bank receipt for a $751 deposit at a bank in Hammond. Authorities tracked Burkes’ phone traveling between Hammond and Momence around the time of the crime.
According to Costello, Burkes’ current girlfriend identified him in the surveillance footage. His ex-girlfriend reportedly confirmed that the white BMW seen in the video was the vehicle she had previously sold to him.
Burkes has been charged with three counts of murder, armed robbery, and felony possession of a firearm. He is currently being held without bond at the Jerome Combs Detention Center.
Drysdale, who was engaged to be married, leaves behind a young daughter who is now living with her aunt and uncle. Family and friends attended the court hearing just one day after her funeral. A GoFundMe has been created to support her daughter in the wake of the tragedy.
Prosecutors say the killing was deliberate and calculated. The case remains ongoing.
He took a life while he is still walking sround
Looking at the pictures I knew immediately that the black guy was the murderer. These people can’t live in a civilized society, they are litterally like animals.
The murderer should get The DEATH PENALTY! It’s about time we get rid of these murderers. Why feed and cloth him for life in prison on the tax payers. He deliberately killed her in cold blood! Knowing our justice system though he’ll get out and do it again. Someone like this murderer is a cold blooded killer and should NEVER be allowed to live in our society again.