People v. Barnes

*971 ¶ 1 A case involving the senseless and tragic death of an innocent bystander presents a relatively novel question of statutory interpretation on appeal: What does it mean for two or more people to be "acting together" as required to commit the offense of mob action? See 720 ILCS 5/25-1(a)(1) (West 2008). Defendant Tyrone Barnes and an unidentified man shot at each other on the street, resulting in the death of an innocent bystander. A jury acquitted defendant of felony murder but convicted him of armed violence predicated on mob action. The theory of the predicate charge was that defendant…