Man slain over federal tax form claim

A man fatally shot his girlfriend’s brother in March after his federal tax form was rejected because both men claimed the woman’s son as a dependent.
Judge Donald Panarese ordered Keith Middleton, 33, of the 6600 block of South Yale Avenue, held without bail during a hearing today.
Middleton is charged with one count of first-degree murder in the death of Ricky Brown, who was shot in the Englewood neighborhood in the 700 block of West 61st Street on March 21.
In February, 2011, the victim filed his 2010 federal taxes claiming a child of his sister, identified as Rachael Brown, as a dependent.
But in April, when Rachael Brown filed Middleton’s taxes electronically and it was rejected by the IRS because the same dependent was claimed, she accused her brother of illegally claiming her son on his taxes.
Middleton, who was dating Rachel Brown, was incarcerated during this period but was released in September of 2011.
From December of 2011 through March of this year, the three had several unreported arguments including one on March 9.
Ricky Brown was with a witness when Middleton pulled up and exited a van belonging to Rachael Brown, then yelled for Ricky Brown and the witness to get out of the car.
Middleton then took a gun from the van and placed it in his pocket. As they drove closer, Middleton drew the gun out and yelled again for them to get out of the car, but the witness drove away.
Middleton called the witness the next day saying he had “nothing against’’ the witness, but Middleton told the witness “to tell your boy, I got your ass,’’.
On the morning of the murder about 8:37 a.m., Ricky Brown was standing in front of his home when a witness saw Middleton pull up in white car.
According to prosecutors, Middleton exited the car and walked up to the victim, who begged: “don’t shoot, don’t shoot’’ before Middleton shot him twice - leaving him lying on the ground.
Middleton went back to his car but returned and shot Ricky Brown three more times while he was on the ground.
Ricky Brown was pronounced dead on the scene. An autopsy on March 22 determined Brown died of multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide.