UPDATE: Wife of Pour Bros. manager speaks out after judge’s verdict

URBANA, Ill (WCIA) — The man accused of killing a Champaign bar manager outside his workplace has been found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Fidele Tshimanga was tried from the bench on Friday by Judge Matthew Lee on charges that included first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, burglary and armed robbery. In a trial that lasted less than an hour, Lee found that the prosecution had submitted evidence that would have found Tshimanga guilty of killing Brandon Hardway, the general manager of Pour Bros. Taproom, during a smoke break at his workplace.

“He was exactly where he was supposed to be. He was where he worked, among people who love and respect him doing what he was supposed to do,” Lee said. “And you came along, and you shot him in the back, because what? He didn’t give you a cigarette, you took that as disrespect and now he’s no longer here.”

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But expert opinions from two doctors indicated that Tshimanga suffered from mood disorders, paranoia and severe delusions. Lee found that Tshimanga did not appreciate the criminality of his actions and for that reason, he found Tshimanga not guilty by reason of insanity.

“Under the law, you cannot be held criminally responsible because of your mental illness,” Lee said. “But on the other hand, what we can’t do is just say, ‘Well, you’re not guilty. Good luck to you,’ send you on your way and hope it doesn’t happen again.”

Tshimanga will remain in custody until he can be transferred to a facility operated by the Illinois Department of Human Services to receive treatment for his conditions. Lee said Tshimanga will spend an indefinite amount of time there, possibly the rest of his life, which would have been the maximum sentence had he been found fit to be convicted.

The exact details of Tshimanga’s time in treatment will be set on Sept. 25 at 3 p.m.

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The charges against Tshimanga stem from a series of incidents that started in November of 2023 and ended with the deadly shooting in February of this year. Tshimanga was accused of stealing a gun out of a car in Savoy and then using it in what was considered an armed robbery. Prosecutors said that on Feb. 5, Tshimanga followed a woman and her children off an MTD bus, showed them the gun and then smashed her phone on the ground, all after they said she ignored his attempts to talk to her.

Three days later, Tshimanga was accused of shooting Hardway outside Pour Bros. He remained in critical condition for nine days before dying on Feb. 17.

Tshimanga was arrested immediately after the shooting and is said to have admitted to stealing the gun and using it in the robbery and shooting. Tshimanga was found fit to stand trial on April 30 by Judge Randy Rosenbaum, but Judge Matthew Lee found that Tshimanga’s mental illness meant he could not be convicted.

Hardway’s wife, Erin, provided the following statement to WCIA, speaking in favor of Lee’s ruling:

I would like to express my gratitude to everyone involved in bringing this case closer to a swift resolution. While no outcome can bring Brandon back or erase the anguish that will forever linger in my heart, I agree with and support today’s court verdict.

True justice is not only about punishment but also about preventing further tragedies. It is my hope that the decision made today will ensure the safety of our community as well as address the mental health needs of the individual responsible.

Erin Hardway

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