Crime & Safety
DuPage County, IL Murder Verdict: Man Guilty in Killing Over Pizza
WHEATON, IL – A dispute over pizza and a bar tab that ended with a man being shot nine times inside a DuPage County bar has resulted in a first degree murder conviction against a former Aurora residen
By Natalie Brooks · 2026-10-10T01:03:16.826Z
WHEATON, IL – A dispute over pizza and a bar tab that ended with a man being shot nine times inside a DuPage County bar has resulted in a first degree murder conviction against a former Aurora resident.
According to DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin, a jury found Michael Freund, 49, guilty of first degree murder in the December 2023 shooting death of Dexter Perkins at Rosie O’Reilly’s in unincorporated Wheaton.
The verdict followed a three day trial before Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh. Jurors deliberated for less than an hour before reaching their decision.
Deadly Dispute Inside Bar
On December 22, 2023, sheriff’s deputies responded to Rosie O’Reilly’s along Gary Avenue at approximately 8:40 a.m. and found Perkins dead.
Prosecutors said Freund and two coworkers arrived after finishing work. A disagreement developed after the group shared pizza and Freund allegedly took the remaining slices from a second pizza, sparking an argument involving Perkins and the bar tab.
According to authorities, Freund left the establishment, retrieved a 9 mm Glock handgun from his truck and returned.
Following a confrontation outside, Freund fired two shots into the air before shooting Perkins eight times in the torso and once in the face, prosecutors said.
Freund was arrested at the bar without incident.
Jury Rejects Self Defense Argument
Berlin described the shooting as a senseless killing that left two young girls without their father.
Prosecutors said the trial evidence established beyond a reasonable doubt that the shooting was murder rather than self defense.
Freund had been held in custody since December 23, 2023, after a judge denied his pretrial release.
His next court appearance is scheduled for November 9, 2026, for a presentence report and post trial motions.