‘Thug’ son of Alorton mayor to serve life in prison for two Washington Park murders

Randy McCallum Jr. of Alorton was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences Thursday afternoon for two murders in Washington Park.

McCallum, 26, the son of Randy McCallum Sr., the former mayor of Alorton, was convicted in February on two counts of first-degree murder for the Sept. 19, 2009, killings of Charles Black and Kevin McVay Jr. in Washington Park. His father was also convicted of drug and theft offenses while mayor.

Jurors heard a recording of a phone call that McCallum made to his stepmother while he was in jail, awaiting trial.

“I did what I had to do in my self-defense,” McCallum told his stepmother. “I am a thug. I did what I had to do.”

At the sentencing hearing, McCallum declined when given an opportunity to make a statement.

Associate Judge Heinz Rudolf issued the sentence.

“It’s necessary to protect the public from you,” Rudolf said. “You should not be able to leave the penitentiary.”

McCallum will have to serve 100 percent of his sentence.

During sentencing, defense attorney Rick Roustio argued McCallum should only receive one life term in prison, and he interpreted statute to say the crime would only call for one life term.

“I think we only have one life,” Roustio said.

Rudolf disagreed and said the crime called for consecutive terms.

After the hearing, Barbara Williams, the mother of Kevin McVay Jr., was happy with the sentence.

“God is good,” Williams said. “My baby is at peace now.”

Thursday’s sentencing helps the family move on, Williams added.

“It will never be done, but I must move on,” she said.

Kevin McVay Sr. also thanked the prosecutors, Deborah Phillips and Jim Piper, for their work on the case.

“They went out of their way for us,” McVay Sr. said.

Prior to the sentencing arguments, Rudolf heard two defense motions asking for a new trial, but both were denied.

This story was originally published April 14, 2016 at 1:18 PM with the headline "‘Thug’ son of Alorton mayor to serve life in prison for two Washington Park murders."