Clint Massey | Homicide Watch Chicago

Alleged gang member ‘D.Rose’ gets 40 years for fatal shooting of 14-year-old Venzel Richardson in 2014 in Woodlawn

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 09:41:03 -0600

By LUKE WILUSZ and JEFF MAYES
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Ahbir 'D.Rose' Sardin | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.

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 Venzel Richardson in Woodlawn.

Ahbir Sardin, 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.

He was at one point accused, and then cleared of that murder.

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.

On Tuesday, the alleged gang member was sentenced to 40 years, according to court records.

Venzel Richardson | photo provided

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

But Cdai, whose real name was Courtney Ealy; and RondoNumberNine, real name Clint Massey, were both convicted of the murder of jitney cab driver Javan Boyd in May 2016 and are serving prison sentences of 38 and 39 years, respectively.

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.

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.

Second rapper gets 39 years for slaying of Javan Boyd near U.S. Cellular field in 2014

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 18:02:34 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Clint Massey | Chicago Police

A South Side man was sentenced to 39 years in prison Tuesday for the 2014 slaying of a livery driver Javan Boyd just blocks away from U.S. Cellular Field.

Clint Massey, 19, was sentenced to 39 years in prison during a hearing Tuesday by Judge Vincent Gaughan, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.

Massey and 21-year-old Courtney Ealy were previously convicted of first-degree murder for the shooting. Ealy was previously sentenced to 38 years in prison.

Both of the convicted men were rappers. Ealy performed under the name Cdai; while Massey performed as RondoNumbaNine.

Courtney Ealy | Chicago Police

On Feb. 22, 2014, Massey and Ealy were part of a group who drove three cars to the Wentworth Gardens apartment complex, where they were seeking retaliation for an earlier shooting, prosecutors said.

As they arrived in the 3700 block of South Princeton, Massey and Ealy saw the 29-year-old Boyd sitting in the driver’s side of his parked vehicle and got out of their vehicles, prosecutors said.

They approached the passenger’s side of Boyd’s car, asked where Boyd was from, and then fired numerous times, prosecutors said. Boyd was hit seven times before the shooters returned to their vehicles and took off.

Boyd, who had been waiting for a customer, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he later died, authorities said.

Javan Boyd | Facebook

The shooting was captured on Chicago Housing Authority video surveillance. Prosecutors also said Ealy dropped his cellphone near the victim's car.

Boyd, whom family members called a “clean cut,” “old-school” guy who enjoyed spending time with his 11-year-old daughter, especially taking her bowling and skating.

He was born in New Orleans and came to Chicago in 1991 with his family to live in the Robert Taylor Homes in Bronzeville. A fire there three years later claimed the life of his mother, two sisters and brother, according to relatives. Boyd survived and was adopted by an aunt.

Rapper gets 38 years for fatally shooting livery driver Javan Boyd as he waited for customer in 2014 in Bridgeport

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 10 May 2016 14:28:39 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Courtney Ealy, aka Cdai | Chicago Police

A South Side rapper has been sentenced to 38 years in prison for the 2014 slaying of livery driver Javan Boyd just blocks away from U.S. Cellular Field.

Judge Vincent Gaughan handed down the sentence Monday to 21-year-old Courtney Ealy for the Feb. 22, 2014, shooting, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office. Ealy performs rap music under the name Cdai

Ealy and 19-year-old Clint Massey, who performs as RondoNumbaNine, were part of a group looking for retaliation for a previous shooting when they took three cars to the Wentworth Gardens apartment complex in the 3700 block of South Princeton, prosecutors said.

Ealy and Massey got out of their vehicle when they spotted Boyd in the driver seat of a car parked on the block. They walked up to the passenger side, asked Boyd where he was from, then opened fire, shooting the 29-year-old seven times, prosecutors said.

Clint Massey, aka RondoNumbaNine | Chicago Police

Boyd, who had been waiting for a customer, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he later died, authorities said.

Ealy, of the 300 block of East 60th Street, dropped his cellphone at the scene before he and Massey returned to their car and the group drove away, prosecutors said.

Chicago Housing Authority surveillance cameras caught the shooting on video; and police recovered Ealy’s fingerprint from the window of Boyd’s car, prosecutors said.

The shooters were arrested in the weeks after the attack and both were convicted of first-degree murder. Massey, of the 6600 block of South Honore, is scheduled for sentencing June 14.

Rapper Cdai charged with murder in shooting death of livery Javan Boyd near U.S. Cellular Field

Michael Lansu — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:48:46 -0500

Courtney Ealy / Photo from Chicago Police

BY WILL HAGER
Homicide Watch Chicago

Courtney Ealy allegedly left his cell phone outside of a livery car after he and fellow South Side rapper Clint Massey fatally shot the driver last month near U.S. Cellular Field, authorities said.

Ealy, who raps under the moniker Cdai, was signed to Savage Squad Records in December 2013. Massey raps under the name RondoNumbaNine and his song “Hang Wit Me” has nearly 1.5 million views on YouTube.

Assistant State’s Attorney Glen Runk said Javan Boyd was in his cab waiting for a fare in the 3700 block of South Princeton Avenue on Feb. 22 when three cars drove past.

The first vehicle did a U-turn and pulled up next to Boyd’s car, Runk said. Ealy and Massey allegedly exited the vehicle, went to the passenger side of Boyd’s vehicle and asked if he was from the area.

When Boyd responded that he was from the area Ealy and Massey opened the passenger’s side door and fired multiple shots into the car -- striking Boyd, Runk said.

Ealy and Massey then got back into their vehicle and drove off with the two other vehicles, Runk said. Ealy allegedly left his cell phone outside Boyd’s car.

Boyd, 28, of the 7400 block of South Chappel Avenue, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hosptial of Cook County less than two hours later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The shooting was captured on Chicago Housing Authority video and investigators also found both Ealy and Massey’s fingerprints on Boyd’s car, Runk said.

Massey, 17, of the 6600 block of South Honore Street, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder earlier this month, authorities said. He is being held on $2 million bond.

Chicago Police gang officers arrested Ealy this week in the 1800 block of Willow Road in Northfield, according to court documents. Ealy, 19, of the 300 block of East 60th Street, was charged with one count of first-degree murder.

Ealy appeared for a bond hearing Tuesday dressed in a black and white shirt and black pants. Judge Peggy Chiampas ordered him held on $1 million bond for the murder and no bond for violations on two unrelated cases.

Chiampas also issued a no-contact order restricting Ealy from interacting with any of the witnesses or going to the area where the shooting occurred.

“You are prohibited from all social media, which means no Facebook, no Instagram, no my-gram, your-gram, I don’t care whose it is,” Chiampas said.

Ealy was convicted of felony robbery in 2012 and was sentenced to two years probation, Runk said. He currently has two probation violations on that case.

Ealy is a lifelong Chicago resident who lives with his mother, a public defender said. He had been enrolled in GED classes. Ealy's sister declined to comment after the bond hearing.

In addition to being a part-time livery driver, Boyd worked as a food-packer in west suburban Woodridge, his family said last month.

Javan Boyd / Family Photo

Family members described Javan Boyd as a “clean cut,” “old-school” guy who enjoyed spending time with his 11-year-old daughter. He especially liked taking her bowling and skating.

He was born in New Orleans and came to Chicago in 1991 with his family to live in the Robert Taylor Homes in the Bronzeville community. A fire there three years later claimed the life of his mother, two sisters and brother, according to relatives. Boyd survived and was adopted by an aunt.

Boyd had pleaded guilty in 2008 to an aggravated vehicular hijacking charge in Calumet City, but his family said he had turned his life around.

Clint Massey charged with murder in shooting death of livery driver Javan Boyd near U.S. Cellular Field

Michael Lansu — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 16:23:05 -0500

BY JON SEIDEL
Chicago Sun-Times

A South Side teenager has been charged in last month's slaying of a livery driver blocks away from U.S. Cellular Field.

Witnesses allegedly saw Clint Massey, 17, fire a gun into a vehicle driven by 28-year-old Javan Boyd on Feb. 22, prosecutors said. A portion of the shooting was also caught on surveillance video.

Massey raps under the name RondoNumbaNine.

Massey, of the 6600 block of South Honore Street, is now charged with first-degree murder. Cook County Judge James Brown ordered him held Sunday in lieu of $2 million bond.

Assistant State's Attorney Robert Mack told the judge that Massey and an unnamed accomplice were out to retaliate for an earlier fight when they went to the 3700 block of South Princeton Avenue.

Boyd was there, sitting in his car and waiting for a customer, when Massey and the other alleged shooter approached and tried to open a door on the passenger side of Boyd's vehicle, Mack said. Then they began firing their handguns into the vehicle, shooting Boyd twice in the back and three times in the left leg, Mack said.

Javan Boyd / Family Photo

Boyd was shot seven times and pronounced dead at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Mack said.

Massey was arrested Friday evening when police pulled his car over in the 1000 block of North LaSalle Street, according to police reports. Mack said investigators found one of Massey's fingerprint on Boyd's car.

Boyd worked as a food-packer in west suburban Woodridge and recently began working as a part-time livery driver, his family said last month. He was born in New Orleans and came to Chicago in 1991 with his family to live in the Robert Taylor Homes in the Bronzeville community.

A fire there three years later claimed the life of his mother, two sisters and brother, according to relatives. Boyd survived and was adopted by an aunt.

He pleaded guilty in 2008 to an aggravated vehicular hijacking charge in Calumet City, but his family said he had turned his life around.