By ANDY GRIMM
Chicago Sun-TImes
Javontay Tolliver was shot to death early Monday near a CTA Red Line station on the South Side, and the following day, a man was charged with his murder.
Fredrick Stewart | Chicago Police
Fredrick Stewart, 33, faces a felony count of first-degree murder, Chicago Police announced Tuesday night.
Stewart is accused of killing the 34-year-old Tolliver during an argument at 2:39 a.m. Monday in the 200 block of West Garfield Boulevard, near the Garfield Red Line station, authorities said. On Wednesday, he was ordered held without bond.
Tolliver, of the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, was shot three times—in the chest, back and head—and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died at 3:53 a.m., the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
Javontay Tolliver | Facebook
Moments after the shooting, Stewart was arrested by Chicago Police after a brief chase, a few blocks from the Red Line stop.
Surveillance footage showed Stewart and Tolliver arguing near the turnstiles at the station, and Stewart grabbing Tolliver, Cook County prosecutors said in court. Hearing the argument, a CTA employee told the men to leave.
The pair returned to the threshold of the station a few minutes later, when Tolliver bolted away from Stewart, prosecutors said. A CTA employee then heard a gunshot and ducked beneath her kiosk.
Video shows Stewart chasing Tolliver into the street, while pointing a gun at the fleeing man, prosecutors said. Tolliver fell to the ground, and Stewart allegedly shot him as he tried to get up.
A passerby called 911 and stayed with Tolliver until police arrived.
Police re-traced Stewart’s path from the foot chase and located a revolver with a nine-shot capacity, holding six spent casings, one live bullet and two empty slots, prosecutors said.
Stewart’s hands showed traces of gunshot residue in preliminary testing, prosecutors said.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses.
His grandmother, who started the page, said Tolliver suffered from “mental instability” and did not have insurance. “He didn’t deserve to die over an argument,” she wrote. “… please keep my family in your prayers.”