David Walls, 19, of Chicago
David Walls, 19, of Chicago
Nico L. Griggs, 28, of Park Forest
Nico L. Griggs, 28, of Park Forest

SYCAMORE – The two men charged with first-degree murder in the death of a DeKalb man in 2016 are now set to go to trial – together.

A prosecutor’s motion was granted Friday morning to combine the cases of David T. Walls, 19, of the 12000 block of Normal Avenue in Chicago, and Nico L. Griggs, 28, of the first block of Fir Street in Park Forest.

Chief Judge Robbin Stuckert ruled that pretrial motions should be filed before a hearing at 9 a.m. Aug. 30, leading up to the jury trial expected to start at 10 a.m. Oct. 23. A final jury status was set for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 18.

Walls and Griggs are charged with first-degree murder and aggravated unlawful use of a firearm in connection with the Oct. 6, 2016, slaying of 25-year-old Debrece G. Shields. A conviction on a first-degree murder charge typically is punishable by 20 to 60 years in prison.

Walls and Griggs were arrested after their getaway vehicle ran out of gas on Peace Road in Sycamore, police said in court records.

The records show that officers were called about 10:30 p.m. Oct. 6, 2016, to a parking lot behind an apartment building at 810 Kimberly Drive, where they found Shields unconscious with at least one gunshot wound. Shields later died.

According to the records, two guns were found near the getaway vehicle, including a 9 mm handgun that matched the manufacturer and caliber of spent casings at the crime scene.