WEEK IN REVIEW: Nine murdered throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 05 May 2014 09:26:32 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Nine people were murdered last week in Chicago, and a 10th person died from injuries suffered in a mid-April shooting.

The killings included seven shooting deaths, one stabbing and one man intentionally run over by an SUV.

Four of the murders happened over the weekend, when 26 other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent murder happened when 41-year-old William Bailey was shot in the back in a garage in the 9200 block of South Emerald Avenue about 11:35 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Bailey, of the 7300 block of South Union Avenue, about an hour later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

In the Chatham neighborhood, 29-year-old Jabari Davis was fatally shot in his home in the 900 block of East 81st Street about 7:15 a.m. Sunday, authorities said. He died at the scene.

In the Austin neighborhood, 23-year-old Terrance McNeal was fatally shot during a fight on a sidewalk in the 400 block of North Leclaire Avenue about 3:15 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

McNeal, of the 400 block of North Leamington Avenue, was shot in the abdomen and arm and died at Mount Sinai Hospital, authorities said.

On Saturday, 55-year-old Rickey Hayes was fatally stabbed during a fight in the 7900 block of South Ingleside Avenue about 9:45 p.m., authorities said.

Hayes, of the 500 block of East 76th Street, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County about an hour later, according to the medical examiner's office.

In the McKinley Park neighborhood, 24-year-old Antonio Mendez was intentionally run over by an SUV during an argument in the 1800 block of West 33rd Place about 6:45 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Mendez, of the 2200 block of West 35th Place, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County less than a half hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office. An autopsy determined Mendez died from multiple injuries from an SUV striking a pedestrian and the death was ruled a homicide.

On Thursday, 34-year-old Jeromy Ellis was fatally shot in the head near East 81st Street and South Cottage Grove Avenue about 2:05 a.m., authorities said. Ellis, of the 7600 block of South Drexel Avenue, was dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Wednesday, Miata Phelan fatally stabbed her boyfriend, Larry Martin, about 6:40 p.m. inside his home in the 6800 block of South Talman Avenue in the Chicago Lawn community, authorities said.

Martin's family said his 8-year-old son tried to save his father by applying pressure to the stab wound with a towel. Martin, 28, died about an hour later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Prosecutors said Phelan, who is seven months pregnant, became enraged when she found out Martin bought gifts for his cousin and brother during a trip to the mall.

About 4:30 p.m. Monday, 14-year-old Endia Martin was fatally shot by another 14-year-old girl during a fight over a boy in the 900 block of West Garfield Boulevard, authorities said.

Endia, of the 5300 block of South Wallace Street, died at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital 40 minutes later, according to the medical examiner's office.

The shooter and her uncle, Donnell Flora, of the 8300 block of South Buffalo, were each charged with first-degree murder, authorities said. Numerous other people were charged for their role in the fight and shooting.

The killings started when Crystal Caffey, 27, allegedly fatally stabbed Marvin Turner, 29, about 2:30 a.m. last Monday in their home in the 4000 block of West Maypole Avenue, authorities said.

Prosecutors claim Caffey and Turner were a couple, and she stabbed him during a fight over missing money after a card game at their West Garfield Park home.

Additionally, 45-year-old John J. Miles died last Tuesday from injuries suffered when he was shot multiple times about 11:30 a.m. April 19 outside his home in the 1700 block of West Rosehill Drive, authorities said.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 116 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including five people killed by police.

Additionally, the state’s attorney’s office filed first-degree murder charges against a speeding motorist who killed an off-duty police officer while trying to flee police even though the autopsy ruled the death an accident.

Chicago Police, which counts murders different, have ruled at least eight of the homicides as involuntary manslaughter, justified self-defense or accidents.

Prosecutors: Crystal Caffey fatally stabbed boyfriend Marvin Turner over missing money after card game

Michael Lansu — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 10:43:53 -0500

Crystal Caffey / Photo from Chicago Police

BY EMILY BROSIOUS
Homicide Watch Chicago

Crystal “Cocoa” Caffey fatally stabbed her boyfriend because she thought he stole money from her during a Monday night card game at their West Garfield Park home, prosecutors said.

Caffey, 27, was charged with one count of first-degree murder for the death of Marvin “Pootie” Turner and ordered held on $750,000 bond Tuesday, authorities said.

Turner, 29, was found stabbed on a sidewalk near his home in the 4000 block of West Maypole Avenue at about 2:50 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

Prosecutors said Caffey, Turner, their five children and two others lived in a basement apartment, while Caffey’s sister and boyfriend lived in an adjoining first floor apartment with another man.

Caffey, Turner and four others in the group were all playing cards in the first floor apartment, prosecutors said. Caffey eventually left the card game and went to sleep in the basement.

Turner went down to the basement apartment, woke up Caffey and asked to borrow some money, prosecutors said. Caffey refused and went back to sleep.

When Caffey woke up and found her money gone she went up to the kitchen to confront Turner and found the card game had ended, prosecutors said. An argument and fight ensued where Turner allegedly grabbed Caffey by her hair.

Caffey grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed Turner once in the upper left chest, prosecutors said.

The first floor residents came out of their bedrooms during the fight and one of them called 911, prosecutors said. Officers found Turner outside on the sidewalk and paramedics took him to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died about an hour later, authorities said.

An autopsy confirmed Turner died of a stab wound to the chest and the death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Caffey discarded the knife in the kitchen sink and it was recovered by police, prosecutors said.

She eventually admitted to police that she stabbed Turner during an argument, prosecutors said.

Caffey was convicted of misdemeanor assault and resisting in 2005, misdemeanor battery in 2010 and misdemeanor battery and resisting in 2011, prosecutors said.

She is scheduled to be back in court May 19.

Crystal Caffey | Homicide Watch Chicago

WEEK IN REVIEW: Nine murdered throughout Chicago

Prosecutors: Crystal Caffey fatally stabbed boyfriend Marvin Turner over missing money after card game