Homicide Watch Chicago

By MATTHEW HENDRICKSON
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

A man who was killed in a shooting that left four other people wounded Thursday night in the South Shore neighborhood has been identified as 18-year-old Zaire Benjamin.

The group was standing on the sidewalk at 10:38 p.m. in the 2000 block of East 71st Street when someone inside a tan minivan fired shots, according to Chicago Police.

Benjamin was struck in the head and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he died at 11:49 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He lived in South Shore.

A 19-year-old man was shot in the abdomen and groin, and was also taken to Northwestern, where he was in critical condition, police said.

Two 21-year-olds took themselves to Jackson Park Hospital, one with a gunshot wound to the buttocks and the other shot in his left leg, police said. Both their conditions had stabilized.

The fifth victim, an 18-year-old man, was shot in his left wrist, and was taken to Trinity Hospital, where his condition was stabilized, police said.

No one was in custody Monday as Area Central detectives investigated.

Hair stylist Trenton H. James Cornell-Duranleau was found stabbed to death Thursday night in a River North apartment.

A man was found stabbed to death in an apartment at the Grand Plaza in River North on Thursday night. | Google Maps

The 26-year-old Cornell-Duranleau was found with multiple lacerations about 8:30 p.m. inside an apartment in the Grand Plaza Apartments in the 500 block of North State Street, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

He was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:05 p.m., authorities said. He lived in the Pilsen neighborhood.

An autopsy Thursday found he died of multiple sharp force injuries and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Cornell-Duranleau was a native of Michigan and a licensed cosmetologist. He had worked as a hair stylist for 26 years.

His family issued the following statement: “Our Family is deeply saddened by the death of our son. It is our hope that the person or persons responsible for his death are brought to justice. We are asking that you allow our family to process and grieve this tragedy PRIVATELY. We are asking all media outlets to not contact our family, friends or associates. When we have had sufficient time to morn our child’s passing, we will release a more in depth statement if we believe it is appropriate to do so.”

According to a letter sent to tenants by building management, police conducted a sweep of the building after finding the victim and “there is no information to suggest a security concern for the building.”

It said police are “exploring a variety of motives, including a possible domestic incident.”

No one was in custody as of Monday morning.

—Chicago Sun-Times Wire

By MITCHELL ARMENTROUT
Chicago SUn-Times Wire

Kennatay K. Leavell was shot to death early Friday near the former Cabrini-Green public housing projects on the Near North Side, according to Chicago Police, marking the city’s 400th homicide of the year.

Just before 3 a.m., two men were in the 500 block of West Iowa when the 31-year-old Leavell was shot multiple times in the face, and a 34-year-old was shot repeatedly in the abdomen, police and the Cook County medical examniner’s office said. The circumstances of the attack were unknown.

The older man was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition. Leavell died at the scene at 3:09 a.m., according to police and themedical examiner’s office. He lived in the North Side Rogers Park neighborhood.

His death, at least the 400th homicide of 2017 in the city, happened early on the 207th day of the year, meaning Chicago has logged nearly two homicides per day, according to data maintained by the Chicago Sun-Times.
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By JEFF MAYES
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Sun-Times file photo by Ashlee Rezin

The three were among 15 more people who died violently in the city last week, bringing the total ever closer to 400 for the year (a landmark reached on Thursday night) and ahead of last year’s total of nearly 800, highest in two decades.

Moore was walking home from a store about 8:20 p.m. Tuesday in the 7100 block of South State when two cars sped past with people inside firing shots at each other, Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. Moore, of Jeffery Manor, suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead 30 minutes later.

Moore’s nephew, former UIC head basketball coach Howard Moore, said on social media that he was “stunned and devastated” when he learned his uncle was killed in “gang crossfire.”

Bonds man shot to death Sunday night in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. He suffered gunshot wounds to both legs about 9 p.m. in the 5400 block of South Damen, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. He showed up at Holy Cross Hospital, where he was pronounced dead an hour later, authorities said. He lived about three blocks away from the shooting.
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Sydney Caldwell was shot to death Wednesday afternoon while sitting in a vehicle in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood.

The 26-year-old Caldwell 26 was in a car about 4:30 p.m. in the 4700 block of West Maple, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Two or more people approached on foot and someone fired shots.

Caldwell was shot in the abdomen, and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died at 5:04 p.m., authorities said.

He lived in the West Side Austin neighborhood.

—Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Darrel Wilson was stabbed to death in what police believe was a domestic dispute early Thursday in the West Side Lawndale neighborhood, and a woman remains in custody.

The 55-year-old Wilson was stabbed in the left side of his chest at 1:36 a.m. in the 1500 block of South Millard, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Wilson, who lived on the same block, was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital at 2:01 a.m., authorities said.

A 56-year-old woman was taken into custody, and a knife was recovered at the scene, police said. The incident was believed to be domestic-related.

No charges had been filed as of Friday morning.

—Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Glen Ingram was shot to death Tuesday night while standing on the sidewalk near his home in the Gresham neighborhood on the South Side.

The 40-year-old Ingram outside on the sidewalk at 9:37 p.m. in the 7800 block of South Carpenter, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

A white SUV drove past and someone inside fired shots at Ingram, who was struck in the back, authorities said.

Ingram, who lived on the same block where the shooting happened, was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead at 10:32 p.m., authorities said.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses.

—Chicago Sun-Times Wire

South suburban resident Darius Gavin was killed and a woman wounded in a shooting Monday night in the Park Manor neighborhood, just four days before his 21st birthday.

The pair were standing about 10:20 p.m. in the 7100 block of South Rhodes, according to Chicago Police.

A silver Nissan Altima pulled up and three males got out, then opened fire, police said.

The 20-year-old Gavin suffered a gunshot wound to the head, while the woman, believed to be between 20 and 30, was shot in both legs, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

A family member said Gavin’s younger sister also suffered a graze wound in the attack.

Both were taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where Gavin was pronounced dead at 11:06 p.m., and the woman’s condition was stabilized, authorities said.

A resident of south suburban Riverdale, Gavin attended Thornridge High School. He would have celebrated his 21st birthday on Friday, July 28.

The family has started a donation drive to raise funds for a memorial and birthday celebration.

—Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Michael Pierre Carter was shot to death early Sunday near his home in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on the West Side.

The 35-year-old Carter was sitting in a parked vehicle at 2:06 a.m. in the 3600 block of West Chicago when a male suspect walked up and fired shots, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Carter suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:39 a.m., authorities said.

Carter, known to friends as “Swiftness,” lived about a block away from where he was shot.

—Chicago Sun-Times Wire

By NADER ISSA
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

David A. Arocho | Chicago Police

David A. Arocho, 24, was driving a 1996 GMC Carryall about 11:30 p.m. in the 4800 block of South Avers when he rear-ended a 2003 Jeep SUV that was stopped in traffic, according to Chicago Police.

The GMC flipped over when it hit the Jeep.

Arocho’s passenger, the 26-year-old Kall, was pronounced dead at the scene after she possibly fell out of the SUV, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. She lived in the Southwest Side Garfield Ridge neighborhood.
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