Ahbir Sardin | Homicide Watch Chicagohttp://homicides.suntimes.com/suspects/ahbir-sardin/Latest news about Ahbir Sardinen-usWed, 08 Feb 2017 09:41:03 -0600Alleged gang member ‘D.Rose’ gets 40 years for fatal shooting of 14-year-old Venzel Richardson in 2014 in Woodlawnhttp://homicides.suntimes.com/2017/02/08/alleged-gang-member-d-rose-gets-40-years-for-fatal-shooting-of-14-year-old-venzel-richardson-in-2014-in-woodlawn/<p>By LUKE WILUSZ and JEFF MAYES<br /> Chicago Sun-Times Wire<br /> <img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2017/02/sardin-300x225-300x225-300x225.jpg" alt="Ahbir &#039;D.Rose&#039; Sardin | Cook County Sheriff&#039;s Dept." width="300" height="225" class="size-medium wp-image-24031" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ahbir 'D.Rose' Sardin | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.</p><br /> A South Side man whose street name appeared in the lyrics of several Chicago rappers was sentenced to 40 years in prison Tuesday after being found guilty last year of the 2014 fatal shooting of 14-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/venzel-richardson/">Venzel Richardson</a> in Woodlawn.</p> <p><a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/suspects/ahbir-sardin/">Ahbir Sardin</a>, known as “D.Rose,” was part of a crew of rappers including Lil Reese, Lil Durk and Chief Keef, known for their lyrical and social media feud with rapper Lil JoJo, who was murdered in 2012.</p> <p>He was at one point accused, and then cleared of that murder.</p> <p>But a Cook County jury convicted the 20-year-old of first-degree murder on Sept. 15, 2016, for the shooting death of Venzel Richardson, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.</p> <p>On Tuesday, the alleged gang member was sentenced to 40 years, according to court records.<br /> <span id="more-24028"></span><br /> <img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2017/02/14db3fa009b00108f44449ae5af05552-225x300.jpg" alt="Venzel Richardson | photo provided" width="225" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-24032" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Venzel Richardson | photo provided</p></p> <p>Sardin, 17 at the time of the Richardson’s murder, was featured by his “D.Rose” name in lyrics by Chief Keef, Cdai and RondoNumbaNine, sources said at the time of his arrest.</p> <p>Richardson and his friends had just left a convenience store near 61st and King Drive on Feb. 12, 2014, and were walking south in the 6100 block of South Vernon when a white minivan pulled up alongside them, prosecutors said during Sardin’s trial.</p> <p>Sardin, a member of the Black Disciples, according to prosecutors, slid the driver’s-side passenger door open and fired a handgun at the group multiple times.</p> <p>Richardson, who lived in the 6400 block of South St. Lawrence, suffered four gunshot wounds, including one to the back of the head, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said at the time of the shooting. He ran into a gangway, but collapsed, and was pronounced dead there at 8:25 p.m.</p> <p>Police learned Sardin may have been involved in the shooting and witnesses identified him in a photo array, prosecutors said. He was arrested about six weeks after the shooting, which police believe was gang related.</p> <p>Sardin was at one time linked, falsely, to the high-profile 2012 slaying of Lil JoJo, whose real name was Joseph Coleman. He had been feuding with the Black Disciples, along with rival rappers Lil Reese, Lil Durk and Chief Keef before the murder, Homicide Watch Chicago reported at the time.</p> <p>A post on social media claimed Sardin killed Lil JoJo, but the owner of the Facebook page where it was posted later claimed his account had been hacked. Sardin was not charged in that case.</p> <p>But Cdai, whose real name was <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/suspects/courtney-ealy/">Courtney Ealy</a>; and RondoNumberNine, real name <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/suspects/clint-massey/">Clint Massey</a>, were both convicted of the murder of jitney cab driver <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/javan-boyd/">Javan Boyd</a> in May 2016 and are serving prison sentences of 38 and 39 years, respectively.</p> <p>While Sardin was linked to a street gang, Richardson was a participant in the Mikva Challenge, a program that encourages high school students to take part in the political process through elections, community problem solving and policy-making programs, according to its website.</p> <p>Jelani McEwen-Torrence, Richardson’s mentor in the program, said at the time that the teen would walk his nephews home every day after school before returning to take part in the program, Homicide Watch Chicago reported at the time.</p> Jeff MayesWed, 08 Feb 2017 09:41:03 -0600http://homicides.suntimes.com/2017/02/08/alleged-gang-member-d-rose-gets-40-years-for-fatal-shooting-of-14-year-old-venzel-richardson-in-2014-in-woodlawn/Javan BoydVenzel RichardsonCourtney EalyClint MasseyAhbir SardinAlleged gang member ‘D.Rose’ found guilty of murdering 14-year-old Venzel Richardsonhttp://homicides.suntimes.com/2016/09/17/alleged-gang-member-d-rose-found-guilty-of-murdering-14-year-old-venzel-richardson/<p>By LUKE WILUSZ and JEFF MAYES<br /> Chicago Sun-Times Wire<br /> <img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/09/sardin-300x225-300x225.jpg" alt="Ahbir Sardin | Cook County Sheriff&#039;s Dept." width="300" height="225" class="size-medium wp-image-20888" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ahbir Sardin | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.</p><br /> A South Side man whose street name was referred to in lyrics by several Chicago rappers was found guilty of the 2014 fatal shooting of a 14-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/venzel-richardson/">Venzel Richardson</a> in the Woodlawn neighborhood.</p> <p>A Cook County jury convicted 20-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/suspects/ahbir-sardin/">Ahbin Sardin</a> of first-degree murder Thursday night for the shooting death of the teen, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.</p> <p>Sardin, 17 at the time of the murder, was known on the streets as “D.Rose” and was featured in lyrics by Chief Keef, Cdai and RondoNumbaNine, sources said at the time of his arrest.</p> <p>Richardson and his friends had just left a convenience store near 61st and King Drive on the night of Feb. 12, 2014, and were walking south in the 6100 block of South Vernon when a white minivan pulled up alongside them, prosecutors said.<br /> <span id="more-20886"></span><br /> <img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/09/Richrdson-225x300.jpg" alt="Venzel Richardson | Facebook" width="225" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-20889" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Venzel Richardson | Facebook</p></p> <p>Sardin, allegedly a member of the Black Disciples, slid the driver’s-side passenger door open and fired a handgun at the group multiple times, prosecutors said.</p> <p>Richardson, who lived in the 6400 block of South St. Lawrence, suffered four gunshot wounds, including one to the back of the head, prosecutors and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. He ran into a gangway, but collapsed, and was pronounced dead there at 8:25 p.m.</p> <p>Police learned Sardin may have been involved in the shooting and witnesses identified him in a photo array, prosecutors said. Sardin was arrested about six weeks after the shooting.</p> <p>He faces up to 45 years in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 26.</p> <p>Sardin was also falsely linked to the high-profile 2012 slaying of rapper Lil JoJo, whose real name was Joseph Coleman. He had been feuding with the Black Disciples along with rival rappers Lil Reese, Lil Durk and Chief Keef before the murder, the Chicago Sun-Times reported at the time.</p> <p>A post on social media claimed Sardin killed Lil JoJo, but the owner of the Facebook page where it was posted later claimed his account had been hacked. Sardin was not charged in that case.</p> <p>While Sardin was linked to a gang, Richardson was a participant in the Mikva Challenge, a program that encourages high school students to take part in the political process through elections, community problem solving and policy-making programs, according to its website.</p> <p>Jelani McEwen-Torrence, Richardson’s mentor in the program, said at the time that the teen would walk his nephews home every day after school before returning to take part in the program, Homicide Watch Chicago reported at the time.</p> <p>“These children live in extreme environments,” McEwen-Torrence said at the time of his death. “You can’t categorize them by who they may be affiliated with. I want him to be remembered in a holistic way. He was a caring and courteous person.”</p> Jeff MayesSat, 17 Sep 2016 12:30:04 -0500http://homicides.suntimes.com/2016/09/17/alleged-gang-member-d-rose-found-guilty-of-murdering-14-year-old-venzel-richardson/Venzel RichardsonAhbir SardinUPDATE: Ahbir Sardin held on $1M bond for alleged murder of 14-year-old Venzel Richardson in Woodlawnhttp://homicides.suntimes.com/2014/04/28/update-ahbir-sardin-held-on-1m-bond-for-alleged-murder-of-14-year-old-venzel-richardson-in-woodlawn/<img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2014/02/VenzelRichardson.jpg" alt="Venzel Richardson / Photo from Facebook" width="225" height="300" class="size-full wp-image-4273" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Venzel Richardson / Photo from Facebook</p> <p>BY MICHAEL LANSU<br /> Homicide Watch Chicago</p> <p><a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/suspects/ahbir-sardin/">Ahbir Sardin</a> was ordered held on $1 million bond Monday for allegedly killing 14-year-old Mikva Challenge participant <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/venzel-richardson/">Venzel Richardson</a> during a February shooting in the Woodlawn community that police called gang related.</p> <p>On Feb. 12, Richardson was walking south in the 6100 block of South Vernon Avenue with a group of people who had all gone to a nearby convenience store, Assistant State Attorney Robert Mack said.</p> <p>A white minivan then stopped on Vernon Avenue and Sardin, 17, opened the driver's side door and fired multiple shots at Richardson about 8:20 p.m., authorities said.</p> <p>Richardson was struck four times, including one bullet that entered the back of his neck and exited through his forehead, Mack said.<br /> <span id="more-5509"></span><br /> Richardson, of the 6400 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue, was dead on the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.</p> <p><iframe src="http://homicides.suntimes.com/api/v1/homicides/470.html" width="100%" height="350" frameborder=0></iframe></p> <p>Venzel was part of the Mikva Challenge, said Executive Director Brian Brady. The Mikva Challenge is a program that encourages high school students “to be active participants in the political process through elections, community problem solving and policy-making programs,” according to the Mikva website.</p> <p>Jelani McEwen-Torrence, Venzel’s Mikva Challenge mentor for two years, said he was overwhelmed with grief when he received word of Venzel’s death. Venzel would walk his nephews home every day after school before returning to take part in the program, McEwen-Torrence said.</p> <p>“These children live in extreme environments,” McEwen-Torrence said. “You can’t categorize them by who they may be affiliated with. I want him to be remembered in a holistic way. He was a caring and courteous person.”</p> <p>McEwen-Torrence shared the following video Venzel and friends recorded through the program two years ago:</p> <p><span class='embed-youtube' style='text-align:center; display: block;'><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='500' height='312' src='http://www.youtube.com/embed/9sgtmm7T71c?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></p> <p>Police learned Sardin may have been involved in the shooting and witnesses identified him in a photo array, Mack said. Sardin was arrested Saturday and charged with one count of first-degree murder.</p> <p>Detectives believe the shooting may be gang related, police said.</p> <p>On Monday, Sardin appeared for a bond hearing dressed in a navy blue Juvenile Temporary Detention Center sweatshirt and gray pants. Judge Maria Kuriakos-Ciesil ordered him held on $1 million bond and issued a next court date of May 19.</p> <p>A public defender said Sardin is a senior at Dyett High School and lives at home with his mother and three younger siblings.</p> <p>Sardin has no prior felony convictions.</p> <p>-- Contributing: Will Hager</p> Michael LansuMon, 28 Apr 2014 14:11:32 -0500http://homicides.suntimes.com/2014/04/28/update-ahbir-sardin-held-on-1m-bond-for-alleged-murder-of-14-year-old-venzel-richardson-in-woodlawn/Venzel RichardsonAhbir Sardin