Nehemiah Spencer / Photo from Chicago Police
BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor
A Woodlawn man was ordered held on $2 million bond Monday after police claim he fatally stabbed a man who came to his girlfriend’s aid during an argument.
On Saturday, Nehemiah Spencer got into an argument with his girlfriend, who called family members for a ride home and threatened to leave with their two children, said Assistant State’s Attorney Glen Runk.
Spencer, 24, responded by hitting his girlfriend in the face, holding a knife to her neck and threatening to harm her family if they came to his apartment in the 6500 block of South Minerva Avenue, Runk said.
The woman’s 34-year-old uncle and 20-year-old family friend Leroyce Noel arrived “a short time later,” Runk said. Spencer then let both men into the apartment and stabbed Noel once in the chest with a claw knife about 3 p.m., authorities said.
A struggle ensued between Spencer and the uncle, who suffered “defensive wounds to his hands.” Spencer then picked up “an ice pick like weapon” and stabbed the uncle in the back, Runk said.
Spencer’s brother came out of a bedroom with a machete, broke up the fight and allowed the girlfriend and uncle to run away. The brother then took Noel into his bedroom, where another person attempted to help him, Runk said.
Noel, of the 7100 block of South Mozart Street, died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital at 4:19 p.m. Saturday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Before police arrived, Spencer taunted his girlfriend and her uncle from an apartment window by telling them that their friend was dying, Runk said.
Spencer was taken into custody at the apartment and directed officers to the murder weapon, Runk said.
The uncle was treated at University of Chicago Hospital, police said.
Spencer, of the 6500 block of South Minerva Avenue, was charged Sunday with first-degree murder and aggravated battery involving a deadly weapon, police said.
On Monday, Judge James Brown ordered Spencer held on $2 million bond and ordered him back to court on Oct. 17.