Court Opinion

ID: 9913875
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-28 21:03:59.000876+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:59:54.524516
License: Public Domain

2023 IL App (1st) 210768-U

                                               No. 1-21-0768

                                         Filed December 28, 2023

                                                                                        Fourth Division

     NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except in the
     limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).

                                                  IN THE
                                   APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
                                             FIRST DISTRICT

     THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,                         )              Appeal from the
                                                                  )              Circuit Court of
            Plaintiff-Appellee,                                   )              Cook County.
                                                                  )
            v.                                                    )              No. 16 CR 4836
                                                                  )
     CAMERON WHITE,                                               )              Honorable
                                                                  )              Maura Slattery Boyle,
            Defendant-Appellant.                                  )              Judge, presiding.

            JUSTICE MARTIN delivered the judgment of the court.
            Justices Hoffman and Ocasio III concurred in the judgment.

                                                  ORDER

¶1          Held: The defendant was permitted to testify to his state of mind in support of his claim
                  of self-defense and defense of others. The defendant was permitted to make a
                  meaningful closing argument. Trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to file a
                  motion to suppress statements or a motion to exclude gang evidence.

¶2          A jury found Cameron White guilty of three counts of attempted murder for a shooting

     outside of a nightclub over his claim that he fired to defend himself and others. The circuit court

     sentenced him to an aggregate prison term of 62 years. On appeal, White argues (1) the trial court

     prohibited him from testifying to his state of mind, (2) the trial court prevented his attorney from
     No. 1-21-0768

     making a meaningful closing argument, and (3) his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to file

     motions to suppress his pretrial statements and bar gang evidence. We affirm. 1

¶3                                            I. BACKGROUND

¶4           The shooting was captured on surveillance video, which was shown and admitted at trial,

     and many of the surrounding facts were not in dispute. White travelled from Waukegan, Illinois

     with several friends to The Shrine, a nightclub located on South Wabash Avenue in Chicago, to

     attend his birthday party on February 19, 2016. Arriving in a maroon or red Chrysler Pacifica, the

     group parked in front of the club’s entrance. At some point after midnight, White was ejected from

     the club. Shortly afterward, a large fight broke out inside. Security guards escorted the combatants

     outside and a decision was made to close the club for the night. An ejected patron, James Friar,

     was verbally belligerent with security guards, prompting a guard to produce a baton. White, who

     was a friend of Friar’s, joined him as the security guards followed Friar to a parking lot. After

     witnessing Friar discard a handgun underneath a car, the guards apprehended Friar, placed him in

     handcuffs, and walked him back toward The Shrine’s entrance. White ran to the Pacifica and

     retrieved a handgun. While the security guards escorted Friar, several people attempted to

     intercede, verbally and physically, to free Friar. By the time the guards brought Friar to the

     entrance, a large crowd had gathered on the sidewalk. Tracy Davis, who had also been ejected,

     approached, and punched one of the guards. In the ensuing scuffle, a handgun fell from Davis’s

     boot. Almost simultaneously, White, standing about 15 feet away near the Pacifica, fired two shots

     with a semiautomatic handgun. He quickly stepped behind the car and fired a third shot. Two

     people were struck by bullets. Tekira Holmes, a bystander, was hit in the head and left partially

     paralyzed. Michael Burke, a security guard, was struck in the leg below his knee. After firing the

             1
              In adherence with the requirements of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 352(a) (eff. July 1, 2018), this
     appeal has been resolved without oral argument upon the entry of a separate written order.
                                                        -2-
     No. 1-21-0768

     shots, White entered the Pacifica. As bystanders pointed to him, a security guard approached and

     drew his handgun. White exited the car and fled on foot.

¶5          Six days later, White was arrested in Waukegan. Two Chicago Police Department

     detectives interviewed him at a Waukegan police station. White admitted to firing shots outside

     The Shrine but believed he had not shot Holmes or Burke because “the bullet would have had to

     have curved.” After being transported to a Chicago police station, two different Chicago Police

     detectives interviewed White. He told them he pointed the gun at security guards and fired, hoping

     to scare them and enable Friar to escape. White was subsequently indicted for multiple counts of

     attempted murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated discharge of a firearm. He filed an answer

     indicating he would assert the affirmative defenses of self-defense and defense of others.

¶6          Before trial, the court conducted a hearing in accordance with People v. Thompson, 2016

     IL 118667, ¶ 59, regarding the State’s intention to introduce lay opinion identification testimony

     from Waukegan Police Detective Brian Falotico. At the hearing, Detective Falotico testified he

     had been assigned to a unit that monitored and gathered information on gangs. He first learned of

     White in 2013 after a vehicle in which White was a passenger was stopped and a handgun was

     discovered. The detective was not present for that stop but viewed booking photos of White. Later,

     Detective Falotico learned from informants that White was becoming “a predominant player” in

     the P. Stones gang in the Waukegan area. The detective then followed White’s social media posts

     for several months. Over that time, Detective Falotico viewed White in over 50 photos or videos

     he had posted. In February 2016, Detective Falotico was asked to view surveillance video of the

     shooting outside The Shrine. He recognized White in the video. On February 26, Detective

     Falotico participated in surveilling White and arrested him after stopping the car White was

     driving. He had a brief conversation with White at that time.

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       No. 1-21-0768

¶7             After Detective Falotico’s testimony, defense counsel indicated that he did not “have a

       problem with [Detective Falotico] testifying to what’s in Thompson” but would file a motion

       in limine regarding prejudicial factors. The court found that Detective Falotico could offer lay

       identification testimony and stated that it would address the parameters of his testimony at another

       time.

¶8             Later, the State filed a motion to admit gang evidence. The motion asserted that several

       members of a faction of the Black P. Stones street gang, including White and Friar, attended a

       party at The Shrine the night of the shooting. The State claimed gang evidence was necessary to

       explain both why Detective Falotico was monitoring White’s social media and why White fired at

       security guards—to prevent the arrest of Friar, a fellow gang member.

¶9             The record does not reflect a court ruling on the State’s motion to admit gang evidence nor

       a filed or oral motion in limine regarding the parameters of Detective Falotico’s testimony.

¶ 10           At trial, four security guards who worked at The Shrine the night of the shooting testified.

       Obinna Uwakwe was the security manager. Sometime before 2 a.m. on February 20, 2016, a

       “melee” broke out inside The Shrine after a patron threw a bottle at security guards. Security

       personnel escorted some of the combatants outside and walked them to a nearby parking lot.

       Uwakwe was alerted to a disturbance in the parking lot where other security guards had recovered

       a firearm. Upon walking to the parking lot, he observed two security guards, Dwight Flowers and

       Eric Salgado, detaining a man later identified as James Friar. The security guards walked Friar

       back toward the Shrine and encountered a “crowd” on the sidewalk. The crowd was comprised of

       patrons associated with a birthday party. Some attempted to intervene on Friar’s behalf, urging the

       security guards to release him. Upon nearing The Shrine’s front door, a fight broke out between

       members of the crowd and security guards. Uwakwe restrained a person who was attempting to

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       No. 1-21-0768

       punch a guard. Uwakwe then heard three gunshots and he made his way safely inside. After “the

       smoke settled,” Uwakwe went outside and discovered a security guard, Michael Burke, had been

       shot in the leg. He also viewed Holmes on the sidewalk, bleeding from her head. A red or maroon

       Chrysler Pacifica was parked on the street in front of the Shrine.

¶ 11          Surveillance video showing the exterior of the Shrine was played in court. As the video

       played, Uwakwe described events and identified some of the people depicted, including White.

       Uwakwe was permitted to exit the witness stand, stand near the screen, and point while narrating

       events. He explained that, beginning at 1:40 a.m., the video shows the security guards responding

       to the altercation he described earlier. According to Uwakwe’s testimony, the video shows White

       exit the Chrysler and join Friar as Salgado and another security guard address Friar on the sidewalk

       at 1:48 a.m. Around 1:54 a.m., security guards are seen running toward the parking lot. Uwakwe

       explained they did so due to the report of a gun. Shortly after, White is seen returning and “gaining

       access into the Chrysler vehicle.” The video shows White entering and exiting the Pacifica multiple

       times. Later, the video shows security guards bringing Friar toward the Shrine’s entrance as

       individuals attempt to intercede and a crowd gathers. At 1:57 a.m., a man wearing bib overalls,

       later identified as Tracy Davis, runs toward the guards, and throws a “sucker punch,” causing a

       “melee” on the sidewalk. A few seconds later, the video shows White—who was standing near the

       rear of the parked Chrysler Pacifica—extend his arm toward the melee and fire two shots. He

       quickly steps behind the rear of the vehicle and fires a third shot before entering the car from the

       street side. Holmes is lying on the sidewalk. On cross-examination, Uwakwe testified that the

       video showed Burke engaging Davis after the “sucker punch” and a handgun fell from Davis’s

       boot onto the sidewalk.

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       No. 1-21-0768

¶ 12          Michael Burke testified consistently with Uwakwe. Burke pulled Davis from the melee on

       the sidewalk after observing him punch a security guard in the head. Davis then began fighting

       with Burke. A handgun fell from Davis’s boot. Burke stepped on the gun and pushed Davis away

       to prevent Davis from obtaining it. A moment later, Burke was struck by a bullet just below his

       right knee. Like Uwakwe, Burke narrated events seen on the surveillance video, which was again

       played for the jury. Burke identified White in the video. He also identified Davis and another

       person who was standing beside Davis 2 when the fight outside The Shrine broke out. According

       to Burke, all three had arrived near the same time as White and were part of the same group

       attending White’s birthday party. He said the three were together throughout the night. The State

       asked Burke what he thought was going to happen when he was fighting with Davis. Burke

       explained that he feared for his life since he observed a gun fall from Davis’s boot and heard shots

       being fired but did not know where the shots came from. The bullet that struck Burke went through

       his leg. He spent three days in the hospital and required months of rehabilitation. He could no

       longer stand for long periods of time, precluding him from working security again.

¶ 13          Eric Salgado, a third security guard, gave an account consistent with Uwakwe’s and

       Burke’s. Salgado and another security guard named Mr. Gerardo 3 encountered Friar after he was

       ejected from The Shrine. Friar was verbally combative, and Mr. Gerardo drew his baton. White

       and a person who identified themselves as Friar’s sister joined Friar and tried to calm him down.

       Friar “disappeared” but returned 10 minutes later. Salgado testified that Friar made a gesture to his

       waist toward Mr. Gerardo, indicating he possessed a handgun. Salgado was permitted to step down

       from the witness stand and demonstrate the gesture, which was described as placing his hand

              2
               This individual was never identified by name at trial. The testimony suggests the person is
       someone other than Huley.
             3
               Neither Salgado nor any other witness stated Mr. Gerardo’s first name.
                                                       -6-
       No. 1-21-0768

       underneath his vest near his waist. The prosecutor asked Salgado what he believed the gesture

       meant. Salgado said he felt his life was threatened and it prompted him and Mr. Gerardo to draw

       their weapons. Friar then backed away and threw an object under an SUV in the parking lot. A

       sound of metal striking concrete followed. Salgado looked under the SUV and observed a handgun.

       He and Mr. Gerardo then detained Friar and walked him back toward The Shrine’s entrance. After

       turning Friar over to other security guards, Salgado headed back to the parking lot. He then heard

       gunshots and returned to the front of The Shrine. Another security guard, Francisco Perez, directed

       him to the parked Chrysler Pacifica, stating the shooter was inside. Salgado drew his gun and

       moved toward the car. White emerged from the rear driver’s side and ran away. As the previous

       two witnesses had done, Salgado narrated events as the surveillance video was shown. He added

       that Friar, although handcuffed, fled the scene after the shooting.

¶ 14          A fourth security guard, Francisco Perez, testified that he was called to assist other security

       guards in front of The Shrine after the fight inside prompted the club to close. Once there, he

       observed Friar in handcuffs and several people arguing with security guards. Perez took hold of

       Friar. Gunshots were fired from the area of the parked Chrysler Pacifica, 15 to 20 feet away. Perez

       let go of Friar, drew his weapon, and moved behind the Chrysler. Eventually, White exited the

       Chrysler and ran. Just like the three other security guards who testified, Perez narrated portions of

       the surveillance video played for the jury.

¶ 15          Detective Falotico testified that he was assigned to the Gang Intelligence Unit of the

       Waukegan Police Department and his duties included gathering information about gangs. Chicago

       Police Detectives asked him to view a video on February 22, 2016, in which he recognized White.

       Detective Falotico knew White from a “previous incident” in Waukegan, which prompted him to

       start monitoring White’s social media posts. He was shown portions of the surveillance video from

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       No. 1-21-0768

       the Shrine as well as still photos derived from the video. Detective Falotico identified White in

       each of them, including as the person seen firing shots while standing beside a Chrysler Pacifica.

¶ 16          On cross-examination, Detective Falotico testified he had monitored White’s social media

       for at least three months prior to the shooting. The detective had been monitoring numerous other

       people as well. He recognized other individuals in the surveillance video from his social media

       monitoring. Detective Falotico was familiar with Ricky Huley but not Tracy Davis. He believed

       Huley was seen in the surveillance video. Defense counsel asked whether the person he pointed to

       on the video was Huley. Detective Falotico could not identify the individual. The detective

       admitted that nothing in the social media posts he followed was criminal and he was not aware of

       any interactions or association between White and Davis or Huley.

¶ 17          Chicago Police Sergeant Thomas Olson and his partner interviewed White at a Waukegan

       Police station on February 26. After being informed of and acknowledging his Miranda rights,

       White agreed to speak with them. White explained he had gone to The Shrine to celebrate his

       birthday. He got into a fight with security personnel and was thrown out. He was aware that Friar

       was being arrested. White told the detectives he did not believe he could have shot Holmes or

       Burke “because the bullet would have had to have curved.” He did not give a reason for shooting.

       White was transported to a Chicago police station later that day. While there, White was shown

       still photographs from The Shrine’s February 20 surveillance video depicting a person firing shots.

       He pointed to that person and said, “that’s me right there.” White was also shown a flyer

       advertising his birthday party. He said it was “self-explanatory.”

¶ 18          On cross-examination, Sergeant Olson testified that White’s statements were not recorded

       in any medium nor was he given the opportunity to write out his statement. White’s waiver of his

                                                      -8-
       No. 1-21-0768

       Miranda rights and the substance of his statement were memorialized solely in the detectives’

       reports after speaking with him.

¶ 19          Daniel Ludwig, another Chicago Police Detective and with his partner Detective Lopez,

       spoke with White in the evening of February 26 at a Chicago Police station. Before questioning,

       Detective Lopez advised White of his Miranda rights. White chose to speak with them and said he

       rode to The Shrine with three friends in a red Chrysler Pacifica to celebrate his birthday. He was

       escorted out of the club and sat in the Pacifica. White noticed his friend, Friar, in an altercation

       with security guards. The security guards had seen Friar throw a gun underneath a car. Several

       people were trying to free Friar from the guards. White asked an occupant of the Pacifica for a

       “poe”—a handgun. After exiting the car, White “took the gun and he pointed it kind of in the

       direction of the security guards and he fired a shot.” He explained that he wanted to distract and

       scare the security guards to enable Friar to get away. White then returned to the Chrysler Pacifica.

       Moments later, he heard a security guard yell that the shooter was inside the car. White panicked

       and ran one or two blocks before flagging down a taxi, which returned him to Waukegan. Detective

       Ludwig testified on cross-examination that he documented White’s statements in a report. The

       conversation was not recorded, and he did not take contemporaneous notes.

¶ 20          White chose to testify in his own defense. A party at the Shrine was planned for his 25th

       birthday on February 19, 2016. A flyer promoting the party was disseminated on various social

       media platforms. Public promotion of the party made White “nervous.” He was specifically

       nervous that Tracy Davis and Ricky Huley, with whom White had “an ongoing dispute out in the

       world,” might view the flyer and show up at the party.

¶ 21          White rode from his home in Waukegan, Illinois with friends in a Chrysler Pacifica to the

       Shrine. White was aware that his friend, Akeem, had a handgun. They arrived around midnight

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       No. 1-21-0768

       and parked directly in front of the Shrine as part of a “VIP thing.” White noticed the security

       guards were armed with firearms.

¶ 22          After entering, White’s group got into a dispute with the club’s personnel regarding access

       to a VIP section and bottle service. Later, he had an altercation with a security guard who was

       “hitting on” his girlfriend. As a result, White was escorted outside.

¶ 23          After his ejection, White vomited on the sidewalk. He then sat in the Pacifica by himself.

       White noticed Friar, his friend, having some interaction with two security guards, one of whom

       was wielding a baton. White exited the car and joined Friar, hoping to defuse the situation. The

       two walked to the parking lot. While there, Friar tossed an object under a vehicle. White heard a

       sound of metal hitting concrete. He suspected Friar had thrown a handgun.

¶ 24          At some point, White observed Davis and Huley enter a vehicle. He saw Davis obtain a

       handgun but did not see what he did with it. Huley appeared to grab something as well and put it

       in his waistband, but White could not see what it was. White testified that seeing Davis with a

       handgun and Huley putting something in his waistband made him nervous and scared for both him

       and Friar. He ran back to the Pacifica to retrieve Akeem’s handgun “[b]ecause [he] felt like

       something bad could happen if [he] didn’t go grab a gun.”

¶ 25          By this time, security guards had placed Friar in handcuffs. White explained that he

       believed he needed a gun since Friar was vulnerable to being attacked by Davis and Huley. A

       “crowd” moved towards The Shrine’s entrance. White tried to “deescalate the situation” by pulling

       his girlfriend from the crowd.

¶ 26          White was permitted to step down from the witness stand, point to the video screen, and

       describe what was occurring in the surveillance video. He identified himself and pointed out the

       moment he pulled his girlfriend away. White then identified Huley in the video and testified that

                                                      - 10 -
       No. 1-21-0768

       he had seen him standing on the sidewalk, about 20 feet away, with his hand at his waistband.

       When asked how seeing Huley made him feel at the time, White answered, “[k]ind of like nervous

       and scared, and you know like in fear of him.”

¶ 27           Continuing with the surveillance video, White pointed out that Huley stood in the same

       spot as Davis, while another person wearing a cream colored sweater, whom White did not know,

       initiated the fight with security guards on the sidewalk. White testified that he had observed Huley

       remain in the same spot at the time as well. His counsel asked, “Did that mean anything to you?”

       White answered, “Possibly like planned out or something.”

¶ 28           White said he did not see the gun that had fallen from Davis’s boot onto the sidewalk at

       the time but acknowledged that the video showed so. He also pointed out that the video shows

       Davis getting up from the ground and moving toward him after the gun fell and just before he

       began firing shots. White believed Davis still possessed a firearm at that time. He feared for his

       life and was scared that Davis or Huley might shoot him, one of his friends, or his girlfriend. When

       asked why he fired the gun, White answered that he was defending himself, Friar, and his

       girlfriend.

¶ 29           After firing three shots, White entered the Pacifica. Minutes later, he noticed security

       guards approaching the car with guns drawn. Fearing that he could be shot, White exited the

       Pacifica and ran. A friend picked him up a few blocks away.

¶ 30           Addressing Detective Ludwig’s earlier testimony, White claimed that he did not remember

       making a statement about the direction he fired the gun when he was interviewed following his

       arrest. He was not offered any method of recording his statement at that time.

¶ 31           On cross-examination, White admitted that he was ejected from his birthday party and had

       been shoved by security guards. He further admitted that he ran to the Pacifica from the parking

                                                      - 11 -
       No. 1-21-0768

       lot and obtained a handgun after security guards detained Friar. While viewing the surveillance

       video again, White agreed that it showed he and Davis pass by one another a few times on the

       sidewalk. White said he was not scared of Davis at that time. White also agreed that the video

       never shows Davis and Huley together. He could not identify the time during the video when he

       had observed Davis obtain a handgun from a car with Huley. White admitted that he fired the shots

       that struck Holmes and Burke. He also admitted that he had not seen anyone draw a firearm before

       he fired shots.

¶ 32          Regarding his conversations with police following his arrest, White denied telling

       detectives that he fired in the direction of security guards. He gave conflicting answers as to

       whether he told the interviewing officers that he was scared. White admitted that he did not

       mention Huley but insisted that he did tell them about Davis. White further admitted that he had

       not viewed the surveillance video before speaking to police.

¶ 33          The State called Detective Ludwig in rebuttal. The detective reiterated that when he

       interviewed White on February 26, White told him that he fired at security guards. Detective

       Ludwig further testified that White never said that he was scared for his or anyone else’s life, never

       mentioned that he observed Davis possess a firearm, never mentioned Huley, and never said he

       was afraid of Davis or Huley.

¶ 34          In closing arguments, defense counsel began as follows:

              “MR. ERICKSON: What this video shows is not an attempt[ed] murder, but what it shows

              is an ambush. *** Mr. White is not a killer, did not try to kill Tekira Holmes or Mr. Burke.

              Mr. White is somebody that was acting in self defense.

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       No. 1-21-0768

                       Tracy [Davis] and Ricky [Huley] and the guy in the cream were long-time rivals of

              Mr. White and his friend. They came to Mr. White’s birthday party and they came loaded

              with guns.”

       Counsel went on to point out that the surveillance video does not depict what was occurring out of

       the camera’s view nor does it show White’s perspective. He then suggested that the actions of

       Davis, Huley, and a third person showed “a coordinated attack.” Huley stood still with his hand at

       his waist while everyone else scattered amid the chaos of the fight on the sidewalk. Huley’s

       reaction, counsel contended, revealed “an attack was imminent *** an attack was just about to

       happen.” Therefore, White “did what he thought he needed to do * * * he said that he feared for

       his life was when he recognized that ambush was occurring.”

¶ 35          As his closing continued, counsel discussed other events shown on the video, which he

       claimed supported White’s explanation for firing the gun. He also discussed White’s credibility

       and offered various reasons why the jury should reject the evidence that White made inconsistent

       statements to police following his arrest—namely, because the statements were not recorded.

¶ 36          In rebuttal, the prosecutor began: “Ambushed * * * What you did hear was about an

       ambush. And the people that were ambushed were the security officers.” She went on to argue that

       there was no imminent danger, White did not fire to defend himself or anyone else, and White

       fired at the security guards because they were “his problem,” not because of Davis and Huley.

¶ 37          The jury found White guilty of three counts of attempted first degree murder and one count

       of aggravated battery with a firearm. They also found that White personally discharged a firearm

       that proximately caused great bodily harm to both Holmes and Burke. The trial court sentenced

       White to 31 years in prison on each of the attempted first degree murder counts related to Holmes

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       No. 1-21-0768

       and Burke, which were ordered to be served consecutively, and a concurrent 26 years on the count

       related to Uwakwe. White received a concurrent term of 6 years on the aggravated battery count.

¶ 38          By supervisory order, this court was directed to allow White’s motion for leave to file a

       late notice of appeal and treat it as properly perfected. White v. Delort, No. 127930 (Ill. Dec. 15,

       2021) (supervisory order).

¶ 39                                             II. ANALYSIS

¶ 40                                  A. Right to Testify to State of Mind

¶ 41          On appeal, White contends that the trial judge prevented him from testifying to his state of

       mind and prevented his attorney from presenting a meaningful closing argument.

¶ 42          Regarding his testimony, White points to two portions of his direct testimony. As he was

       standing by the screen viewing surveillance video of the moments leading up to the shooting,

       White was asked:

              “Q: Can you see *** what [Huley is] doing with his right hand?

              A: It looks like he’s holding something.

              THE COURT: Sustained. It’s subjective, its speculative.”

       White returned to the witness stand moments later and was asked:

              “Q: Well, [Huley’s] hand at his waistband, what does that gesture mean to you?

              [PROSECUTOR]: Objection.

              THE COURT: Sustained.”

¶ 43          White argues the two evidentiary rulings noted above thwarted his ability to testify that he

       believed Huley was armed and foreclosed him from relying on that fact to explain why he fired

       shots in self-defense. Had he been permitted to answer, White asserts, his “complete testimony

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       No. 1-21-0768

       would have included his inference that Ricky Huley was in possession of a firearm immediately

       prior to the shooting.”

¶ 44           Evidentiary rulings are within the trial court’s sound discretion and will not be disturbed

       unless the court abuses that discretion. People v. Rios, 2022 IL App (1st) 171509, ¶ 58. An

       evidentiary ruling constitutes an abuse of discretion when it is arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable.

       People v. Irwin, 2017 IL App (1st) 150054, ¶ 27. “In criminal cases where the intention, motive

       or belief of the accused is material to the issue, [the defendant] is allowed to testify directly to that

       fact.” People v. Graves, 61 Ill. App. 3d 732, 741 (1978). Self-defense necessarily involves the

       question of whether the defendant subjectively believed, at the time of the incident, that the force

       they used was necessary. People v. Keefe, 209 Ill. App. 3d 744, 751 (1991).

¶ 45           Regardless of whether the trial court’s evidentiary rulings were proper, we do not find these

       two rulings had the effect of preventing White from testifying to his state of mind. “Where a claim

       of self-defense rests upon some reasonable basis, exclusion of state-of-mind testimony by a

       defendant will ordinarily constitute reversible error unless sufficient evidence of his intent is

       admitted at a subsequent stage of trial.” People v. Christen, 82 Ill. App. 3d 192, 194 (1980).

¶ 46           For instance, in Graves, a defendant claimed he fired a pistol in self-defense during an

       altercation stemming from a barroom game of pool. Graves, 61 Ill. App. 3d at 738. After being

       threatened, the defendant retrieved a pistol from a back room and attempted to leave the bar. Id.

       The victim swung a pool stick at the defendant, who then shot him. Id. The defendant shot the

       victim a second time upon seeing him reach into his pocket. Id. The trial court precluded the

       defendant from testifying that the victim had threatened him with a knife on a prior occasion and

       that he knew the victim to carry a knife and handgun. Id. at 737. This court found the defendant

       should have been allowed to offer this testimony since believing the victim to be armed was

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       No. 1-21-0768

       relevant to his state of mind—his intent, motive, and belief—before and during the shooting. Id.

       at 741.

¶ 47             Similarly, in People v. Kline, 90 Ill. App. 3d 1008, 1009-11 (1980), a defendant asserted

       that he shot three people in self-defense when he attempted to purchase narcotics as a police

       informant. This court found that the trial court erred by not permitting the defendant to testify why

       he brought a gun to the purchase, why he pulled the trigger, and how many people he expected to

       encounter when he went to the seller’s home. Id. Testimony on these points was “essential to

       defendant’s claim of self-defense” since it was “highly probative of the reasonableness of his

       actions which culminated in the shootings.” Id. at 1014-15.

¶ 48             Likewise, in Christen, an 81-year-old defendant with physical disabilities claimed he shot

       a bar patron, who had threatened to fight him, in self-defense. Christen, 82 Ill. App. 3d at 194. The

       trial court sustained objections to the questions “Would you explain why you shot him?” “Could

       you have fought him?” and “Did you want to kill him?” Id. at 195. The defendant attempted to

       testify he did not want to kill the decedent, only to scare him. Id. This court found the defendant

       was “prevented from establishing that he did not intend to kill [the decedent] or, alternatively, that

       he reasonably believed that his own life was jeopardized requiring his resort to deadly force.” Id.

¶ 49             Lastly, in Keefe, a defendant claimed he stabbed the victim in self-defense after the victim

       had pulled the defendant from a car and was strangling him. Keefe, 209 Ill. App. 3d at 752. This

       court found the trial court erred by barring the defendant from answering what he was feeling and

       whether he was afraid at that time. Id. The defendant’s subjective feelings and whether he was

       afraid were relevant to “whether defendant was justified in using the force that he used.” Id. at

       753.

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¶ 50          In each of these cases 4, the trial court’s evidentiary rulings fully barred each defendant

       from testifying to some aspect of their state of mind; that is, to explain their intent, motive, or

       beliefs. Unlike those cases, the record here demonstrates that, apart from the questions he was not

       permitted to answer, White was permitted to give substantial testimony regarding his state of mind

       and the circumstances surrounding his actions. On direct examination, White testified he was

       nervous Davis and Huley would be at the club due to “an ongoing dispute.” He explained that,

       after being ejected from the club, he observed Davis and Huley go to a car where Davis retrieved

       a gun and Huley grabbed something, which he put in his waistband. White stated those

       observations made him nervous and scared due to “bad blood” with Davis and Huley and he feared

       he and Friar could be in danger from them. White was permitted to answer why he retrieved a

       gun—because he “felt like something bad could happen if [he] didn’t.” He further testified that he

       was “nervous and scared, afraid of [Huley]” when he observed Huley standing on the sidewalk

       with his hand at his waist. White was permitted to explain that he suspected Davis and Huley were

       carrying out a plan when he observed Davis punch a security guard and Huley stand still despite

       the ensuing melee. Further, White testified he believed Davis still had a gun and had not seen the

       handgun that had fallen from Davis’s boot. He also explained that he fired at Davis when Davis

       got up and moved in White’s direction because, at that moment, he was scared and feared for his

       life. Ultimately, White was permitted to answer the question “Why did you fire the gun,” stating

       he was defending himself, Friar, and his girlfriend.

¶ 51          Accordingly, White was permitted to give ample testimony as to his state of mind at the

       time of the shooting. He repeatedly testified that Davis and Huley’s actions made him nervous and

       scared. And he was allowed to give a direct explanation of his intent—to defend himself, Friar,

              4
                  The first three were cited in White’s brief.
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       No. 1-21-0768

       and his girlfriend. See Christen, 82 Ill. App. 3d at 195 (stating that “the defendant ha[s] the right

       to directly testify to his intent at the time of the occurrence”).

¶ 52           In addition, although White’s testimony did not include an explicit statement that he

       inferred Huley had a gun—as he argues on appeal—his testimony left an unmistakable implication

       for the jury to infer that White thought so. White testified that (1) he saw Huley take something

       from a car and put it in his waistband at the same time he observed Davis obtain a gun from the

       same car, (2) Huley held his hand near his waistband moments before the shooting, (3) he

       perceived Davis and Huley were acting in concert according to a plan, (4) Davis’s and Huley’s

       conduct made him nervous and scared, and (5) he feared he, Friar, or his girlfriend would be shot.

       From this, no reasonable juror could miss that White believed Huley possessed a firearm before

       White fired shots. We have held that a defendant is not prejudiced when they were able to elicit

       the same testimony to which the trial court sua sponte objected. People v. Moore, 2023 IL App

       (1st) 211421, ¶ 120. Essentially, that is what occurred here.

¶ 53           In sum, considering White’s testimony in its entirety, we cannot conclude that the trial

       court prevented White from testifying to his state of mind.

¶ 54                               B. Right to Make a Proper Closing Argument

¶ 55           White next argues that the trial court prevented him from making a meaningful closing

       argument. To be sure, the sixth amendment affords a criminal defendant the right to present a

       closing argument. People v. Little, 2018 IL App (1st) 151954, ¶ 60. If the trial court does not permit

       defense counsel to make a proper argument on the evidence and applicable law in the defendant’s

       favor, a conviction should be reversed regardless of whether the defendant was prejudiced. People

       v. Stevens, 338 Ill. App. 3d 806, 810 (2003) (citing Herring v. New York, 422 U.S. 853, 864

       (1975)). The trial court denies the defendant the right to make a proper closing argument by, for

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       No. 1-21-0768

       example, repeatedly interrupting counsel, and effectively curtailing their argument. People v.

       Heiman, 286 Ill. App. 3d 102, 112-113 (1996) (trial court interrupted defense counsel’s argument

       40 to 50 times); People v. Crawford, 343 Ill. App. 3d 1050, 1060 (2003) (trial court interrupted

       defense counsel after two sentences and most of counsel's closing argument was interrupted).

¶ 56          On this issue, White points to three sua sponte objections from the court during defense

       counsel’s closing argument. First, counsel argued the failure to record White’s custodial statements

       was “shoddy police work.” He then stated, “[y]ou should take those statements and toss them out

       the window.” Without objection from the State, the court interjected:

              “Ladies and gentlemen, an attorney’s opinion as to what you should do with the evidence

              is to be disregarded. Their opinion is irrelevant. You are the triers of fact and you are to

              use your own recollection of the evidence in considering the weight to be given to each

              witness that testified in the case.”

¶ 57          Second, counsel urged the jury to consider what the video shows Huley doing in the

       moments preceding the shooting. This line of argument culminated with, “Ricky still has his hand

       in his waistband. He is in position for the ambush.” Again, without objection, the court interrupted:

              “Sustained. Ladies and gentlemen, the characterization by attorneys in regard to the

              evidence is to be determined by the trier of fact, not by attorneys, and the attorneys are not

              to testify. So misrepresentation of evidence by the attorney is to be disregarded.”

¶ 58          Lastly, counsel pointed out that a 9mm bullet was found in a location outside the view of

       the surveillance camera, no forensic evidence established which firearm fired the shot that struck

       Holmes, and none of the security guards’ firearms were analyzed. Based on those circumstances,

       counsel suggested the police investigation was incomplete and asserted, “you are entitled to the

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       No. 1-21-0768

       best evidence, but you didn’t get it here. That’s reasonable doubt, ladies and gentlemen.” The

       court’s third sua sponte objection followed:

              “Jurors, not attorneys and nobody else, not even me, will define beyond a reasonable doubt.

              The triers of fact will. What the attorneys say in regards to reasonable doubt or any attempt

              to define it is inaccurate and wrong. And you will define that.”

¶ 59           White contends that the trial court did not allow defense counsel to make the argument

       that “the shooting was justified because Huley took up a position close to White and Davis struck

       the security guard to create a distraction that would allow the men to attack White and/or Friar.”

       Like the previous issue, regardless of the propriety of the trial court’s interjections, we cannot

       conclude that the trial court deprived White from presenting a meaningful closing argument. The

       trial transcript demonstrates that White’s attorney made a lengthy and comprehensive summation

       with the overarching theme that White fired in self-defense as he perceived that an armed Davis

       and Huley were executing an orchestrated plan to distract the security guards and attack White and

       Friar. The defense’s closing argument fills 26 pages of trial transcript. Contrary to his claim on

       appeal, the defense’s theory was abundantly clear in closing argument. In addition to explicitly

       stating that White “did what he thought he had to do” in response to the “coordinated attack” from

       Davis and Huley, counsel pointed out various aspects of the video and testimony that he believed

       supported that theory. Further, counsel addressed reasons to find White credible and reasons to

       discredit the purported prior inconsistent statement. Viewing the whole of counsel’s argument, we

       cannot find that the three sua sponte objections had the effect of curtailing counsel’s argument or

       preventing the defense from presenting its theory.

¶ 60          Regarding the objection to the “ambush” remark, we note that defense counsel previously

       used that term twice to describe Davis’s and Huley’s actions without objection. He also made a

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       No. 1-21-0768

       similar remark calling their actions a “coordinated attack.” Notably, counsel’s argument appeared

       to prompt the prosecutor to use the term “ambush” herself in her rebuttal to refute the argument.

       Since counsel referenced the idea more than once and the State evidently felt the need to respond,

       the record only supports that the defense was able to make its argument and got its point across.

       Thus, we reject White’s claim that the trial court violated his right to present a meaningful closing

       argument.

¶ 61            Nevertheless, White contends that he was prejudiced since the trial court’s interjections

       distracted the jurors and affected the verdict. In White’s view, the trial court impugned his

       counsel’s integrity by accusing him of misstating the evidence and improperly defining reasonable

       doubt.

¶ 62            To warrant reversal, “[a] defendant must show that comments by the trial judge were

       prejudicial and that he was harmed by the comments.” People v. Lopez, 2012 IL App (1st) 101395,

       ¶ 57. But “[w]here it appears that the comments do not constitute a material factor in the

       conviction, or that prejudice to the defendant is not the probable result, the verdict will not be

       disturbed.” Id. (quoting People v. Williams, 209 Ill. App. 3d 709, 718 (1991).

¶ 63            Here, we do not find that the trial judge’s comments were a material factor in White’s

       conviction. The evidence was not closely balanced. The shooting was caught on The Shrine’s

       surveillance video, which clearly shows White fire three shots toward a crowd of people. The video

       does not support his claim that he fired to defend himself, Friar, or his girlfriend. It shows no

       apparent threat to any of them. While the video shows Davis attacking a security guard, no action

       by him or Huley appears directed toward White, White’s girlfriend, or Friar. Indeed, neither Davis

       nor Huley appears to pay any attention to the three of them. When White fires the first two shots,

       Davis is in the general vicinity of where White pointed the gun, but so were numerous other people,

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       No. 1-21-0768

       including some in between White and Davis, such as Holmes and security guards. In addition,

       most people on the sidewalk, including Huley, scattered after White fired the first two shots. Yet,

       White stepped from behind the Pacifica to fire a third shot in the direction of security guards,

       striking Burke. In addition, notwithstanding the court’s two evidentiary rulings, White was

       permitted to fully explain his beliefs, motive, and intent to the jury, which the jury could evaluate

       against a clear video showing his actions and the surrounding circumstances. We do not believe

       the court’s comments during closing argument materially affected the jury’s verdict.

¶ 64                                C. Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel

¶ 65          We turn to White’s claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel. White contends his trial

       counsel was ineffective for failing to file a motion to suppress his initial statements to police and

       for failing to file a motion to exclude gang evidence. To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance,

       a defense must satisfy the two-pronged standard established in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.

       668 (1984): (1) that counsel’s performance was deficient and (2) that the deficient performance

       prejudiced the defendant. People v. Randall, 2021 IL App (1st) 191194, ¶ 62. To establish

       prejudice, a defendant must demonstrate that there is a reasonable probability that, but for

       counsel’s errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. People v. Johnson, 2021

       IL 126291, ¶ 52. “Where an ineffectiveness claim is based on counsel’s failure to file a suppression

       motion, in order to establish prejudice under Strickland, the defendant must demonstrate that the

       unargued suppression motion is meritorious, and that a reasonable probability exists that the trial

       outcome would have been different had the evidence been suppressed.” People v. Henderson, 2013

       IL 114040, ¶ 15.

¶ 66          Here, White’s ineffectiveness claim related to his custodial statements relies solely on trial

       testimony from Sergeant Olson and Detective Ludwig and a comment White’s attorney made.

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       No. 1-21-0768

       When establishing the foundation for White’s statements, Sergeant Olson answered “Yes” to the

       prosecutor’s question of “And was he told that if he needed an attorney one could be given to him

       or appointed free?” Similarly, Detective Ludwig answered “Yes” to “Did [Detective Lopez]

       indicate that the defendant had the right to have an attorney present *** or one would be appointed

       free?” Outside the presence of the jury, White’s attorney stated on the record that the court

       precluded him from questioning the testifying officers about the circumstances of White’s

       statements but had allowed the State to ask such questions. The ensuing discussion with the court

       and prosecutor contained references to Miranda warnings. Based on these portions of the trial

       transcripts, White argues that the Miranda warnings were deficient because they failed to inform

       him that he had a right to consult with an attorney before and during questioning. See Florida v.

       Powell, 559 U.S. 50, 61 (2010) (adequate Miranda warnings must convey the right to consult with

       counsel before and during questioning).

¶ 67          We cannot find that a motion to suppress White’s custodial statements would have had

       merit or that the outcome of his trial would have been different had his statements been suppressed.

       The language White relies on came from the prosecutor in the form of a question. The officers did

       not testify to a verbatim recitation of what White was told. Nothing in the trial transcript suggests

       the prosecutor’s words were intended to represent such. Rather, as phrased, she appeared to ask

       about the gist of what White was told, not exact words. Thus, the record is insufficient to establish

       that White was given deficient Miranda warnings. Yet, even if White’s statements had been

       suppressed, we do not find a reasonable probability exists that his trial would have had a different

       outcome. Although suppression would prohibit the State from introducing his statements in its

       case in chief, the State could introduce evidence of his statements to impeach his inconsistent

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       No. 1-21-0768

       testimony. See People v. Sanders, 2021 IL App (5th) 180339, ¶ 36 (statements suppressed pursuant

       to Miranda admissible to impeach defendant who gave inconsistent testimony).

¶ 68           Aside from White’s failure to show prejudice, he cannot establish deficient performance.

       Nothing in the record supports that counsel was apprised that White may have been given deficient

       Miranda warnings. To be sure, counsel’s attempt to question the officers about Miranda warnings

       appears to have been prompted by the State’s questioning at trial. Thus, this part of White’s

       ineffectiveness claim relies on hindsight. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689 (courts should make

       every effort “to eliminate the distorting effects of hindsight *** and to evaluate the conduct from

       counsel’s perspective at the time.”).

¶ 69           Next, White claims his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to file a motion in limine to

       exclude gang evidence. In the pretrial hearing regarding Detective Falotico’s identification of

       White, Falotico stated that he learned White was “a predominant player” in the Black P. Stones

       gang in Waukegan while explaining why he was monitoring White’s social media. At trial,

       Detective Falotico did not mention White’s affiliation with a gang but testified that he was assigned

       to the Waukegan Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Unit where his duties included “shooting

       investigations, narcotics investigations, and anything that in regards to gang intelligence, gathering

       intelligence on individuals, gang associates, and stuff like that.” He also stated that he first learned

       of White from a “prior incident” that was brought to the Gang Intelligence Unit’s attention. On

       appeal, White argues the gang references in this testimony were unduly prejudicial as it was

       unnecessary to explain Detective Falotico’s ability to identify White and, instead, suggested White

       had a propensity to commit an unlawful shooting due to gang involvement.

¶ 70           We note that White’s attorney informed the trial court he intended to file a motion in limine

       to limit Detective Falotico’s testimony, but the record shows no such motion was filed. Similarly,

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       No. 1-21-0768

       the State filed a motion to admit gang evidence indicating that it intended to present evidence of

       White and Friar’s common gang association to demonstrate White’s motive for shooting at the

       security guards. The record shows no argument or ruling on the State’s motion. However, the State

       did not present that theory at trial.

¶ 71           We agree that Detective Falotico’s references to the Gang Intelligence Unit while

       explaining why he was monitoring White’s social media amounted to tacit evidence that White

       was a member of a gang. Evidence of gang affiliation is admissible only when relevant to an issue

       in dispute and its probative value is not substantially outweighed by its prejudicial effect. People

       v. Johnson, 208 Ill. 2d 53, 102 (2003). We likewise agree that it was unnecessary for Detective

       Falotico to mention the Gang Intelligence Unit at trial to establish a foundation for his

       identification of White. Just as he modified his testimony between the pretrial hearing and trial

       from mentioning White in connection to a handgun recovery to “a previous incident,” Detective

       Falotico could have merely said he was a Waukegan police officer at trial.

¶ 72           Nevertheless, we do not find that Detective Falotico’s brief reference to gang evidence

       prejudiced White. As we observed, the trial evidence was not closely balanced. The video evidence

       was compelling and failed to support White’s claims of self-defense and defense of others.

¶ 73           In addition, we cannot discount that White’s attorney did not oppose or object to Detective

       Falotico’s gang references as a matter of trial strategy. “To establish deficient performance,

       defendant must overcome the strong presumption that the challenged action or inaction might have

       been the product of sound trial strategy.” People v. Neasom, 2017 IL App (1st) 143875, ¶ 42. “It

       is nearly axiomatic that counsel’s choice of trial strategy is virtually unchallengeable and will

       generally not support an ineffective assistance of counsel claim.” (Internal quotation marks

       omitted.) Id. ¶ 43. To be sure, White’s testimony and his attorney’s closing argument insinuated

                                                      - 25 -
       No. 1-21-0768

       that rival gang affiliation underlay White’s belief in the need to defend himself and Friar. White

       testified he was afraid Davis and Huley would attend his party due to “bad blood” and “an ongoing

       dispute out in the world.” Counsel described them as having a “feud.” When cross-examining

       Detective Falotico, counsel asked him whether he had observed Davis or Huley when monitoring

       White. The negative answer suggested Davis and Huley were not affiliated with White. Thus,

       evidence suggesting rival gang affiliation could serve to bolster that White subjectively believed

       he and Friar were in danger from Davis and Huley and that his belief was reasonable.

¶ 74          In sum, White cannot overcome the presumption that his attorney’s failure to challenge

       gang evidence was trial strategy and he has not demonstrated resulting prejudice. Therefore, we

       find he has not made the requisite showing to prevail on this part of his ineffectiveness claim.

¶ 75                                          III. CONCLUSION

¶ 76          Based on the foregoing, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

¶ 77          Affirmed.

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