Prosecutors Secure 40-Year Sentence in 2011 Maywood Murder
A Broadview man convicted in the 2011 murder of another man during a dispute in the drive-thru of a fast food restaurant was sentenced to 40 years in prison, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.
Gregory Coppage, 56, was convicted in the November, 2011 murder of Tyrone Carter in front of a Popeye’s Chicken restaurant, where the two men got into a dispute in the drive-thru that ended with Coppage hitting Carter with his car and running him over twice.
According to prosecutors, on November 19, 2011, Carter drove to the drive-thru of a Popeye’s Chicken restaurant on Roosevelt Road in Maywood. Coppage drove into the line right behind Carter, cutting off another vehicle. Carter exited his car and went to Coppage’s car, where they exchanged words. Carter then retrieved a stick from his car, struck Coppage’s car several times and then walked away, heading towards the front of the restaurant. Coppage backed his vehicle out of the drive-thru line and drove towards Carter, striking him with the car, causing him to fall on the hood of Coppage’s car. Coppage then slammed on his brakes, causing Carter to fall off the hood and onto the sidewalk in front of the restaurant, where Coppage drove over him. Coppage then drove off the sidewalk, into oncoming traffic, made a U-turn and ran over Carter a second time before fleeing the scene. Several witnesses at the scene were able to get Coppage’s license plate number and report it to police.
Coppage was convicted in June during a bench trial before Cook County Judge Noreen Love. Judge Love sentenced Coppage to the 40 year prison sentence during a hearing yesterday at the Maywood Courthouse.
State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Jennifer Hanus and Sheri Bennet as well as the Maywood Police Department for their work in this case.
