Devon Thomas | Homicide Watch Chicago

Man already charged with murder of 3-year-old son Tayveon Thomas also accused of killing daughter, 4-month-old Janylah Mack

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 17:05:26 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Devon Thomas | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.

A Far South Side man has been charged with the murder of his 4-month-old daughter, Janylah Mack, following an attack on his pregnant fiancé and 3-year-old son, Tayveon Thomas, last Halloween that also left the boy dead.

Devon Thomas, 22, appeared in court Tuesday on a first-degree murder charge for the death of Janylah, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office. He was previously charged with murder and aggravated battery in November for the attack on his Tayveon and Tayveon’s then-pregnant mother.

Thomas punched Tayveon several times in front of the boy’s mother on Oct. 30, 2016, prosecutors said at his first bond hearing. When the 23-year-old woman tried to stop him, he allegedly choked her until she lost consciousness.

The next day, at the couple’s apartment in the 12000 block of South Green Street, Thomas punched Tayveon several times in the chest and torso, prosecutors said. He went on to stomp on the boy’s legs, arms and body with his boots.

Tayveon J. Thomas | Facebook

At that time, Tayveon’s mother came into the room to give him medicine. When she saw the boy being beaten, she tried to intervene, according to prosecutors. But Thomas slapped her across the face, knocked her into the wall, and grabbed her by her ponytail.

Thomas ended up dragging his fiancee by her hair to the front room of the apartment, where they started arguing, prosecutors said. The woman eventually went back to check on Tayveon. She saw him face down on the bed with his body against the wall.

Tayveon’s mother began chest compression and CPR, and called Thomas, who called 911 and continued chest compression until paramedics arrived, prosecutors said.

Tayveon was taken to Roseland Community Hospital, where he died at 1:15 p.m. that day, according to the medical examiner’s office. An autopsy found he died from multiple injuries resulting from child abuse, and his death was ruled a homicide.

The woman also began having chest pains and gave birth prematurely to Janylah a few hours after Tayveon died, prosecutors said.

Janylah died at 10:09 a.m. March 2, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy found she died from complications of injuries her mother suffered in an assault while pregnant, and her death was ruled a homicide.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is investigating the deaths of Tayveon and Janylah, according to spokeswoman Veronica Resa. The mother is also being investigated for neglect in connection with Tayveon’s death.

A 1-year-old sibling was taken into DCFS care following Tayveon’s death and remains in department custody, Resa said.

Thomas remains held without bond at the Cook County Jail, authorities said. He is next scheduled to appear in court April 10.

WEEK IN REVIEW: At least two dead from violence, though Chicago went all week without a fatal shooting

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 10:59:13 -0600

By JEFF MAYES
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

There was likely not a fatal shooting in Chicago last week, something that had not happened in Chicago in more than four years.

It has been since at least 2012 since there was a week without a fatal shooting, according to Homicide Watch Chicago records which go back to the start of 2013. The longest stretch without a fatal shooting in that time was four days, which happened in December 2016.

But despite the lull in fatalities, the city is still ahead of 2016 as far as shootings go, though 2016 had recorded more homicides, 111, as compared to this year, which had seen 102 through Sunday.

Two people did die from violence in the city last week, but both were injured before the week started.

Chicago Police and state child welfare authorities are investigating the death of a 4-month-old Janylah Mack, who died Thursday from injuries suffered in utero when her father allegedly beat her pregnant mother and killed her 3-year-old brother last year. Janylah was pronounced dead at 10:09 a.m. Thursday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy Friday found the baby, who lived in the West Side Humboldt Park neighborhood, died from complications of injuries her mother suffered in an assault while pregnant with her.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is investigating her death, according to an agency spokeswoman. A DCFS statement said Janylah died “as the result of injuries suffered in utero from an apparent domestic violence incident that took place when the mother was 34 weeks into her pregnancy, on October 31, 2016.”

Janylah's father, Devon Thomas, 22, was charged with murder and aggravated battery in November for an attack on his 3-year-old son, Tayveon Thomas, and the boy's then-pregnant mother. He has not been charged in connection with Janylah's death.

Thomas is also under investigation by DCFS for abusing Tayveon, who died on Oct. 31, 2016, and the boy's mother is also being investigated for neglect in connection with Tayveon’s death, Resa said. A 1-year-old sibling remains in DCFS custody, Resa said.
A man was found shot to death Saturday afternoon in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side, but police believe he was shot days or even weeks prior to being found. Officers responded at 12:23 p.m. to a call of a person lying face down in a vacant lot in the 5400 block of West Ohio. Antoine D. Watkins, 22, was found dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.
Watkins lived about a block away from where he was found, and had been reported missing Feb. 8 after not having been seen since Feb. 4, police said. A police source said it appeared the body had been in the field for "quite a while." An autopsy showed Watkins died of multiple gunshot wounds.
There may be a third homicide victim from last week, but an autopsy on the body of a woman found by a garbage collector Friday afternoon in the Grand Crossing neighborhood on the South Side was inconclusive. The man was dumping trash about 12:25 p.m. in the 7300 block of South Kenwood when he discovered the body and called 911, police said.
The woman was identified as 21-year-old Diamond Turner. It wasn’t known how long her body had been there, and the autopsy did not rule on manner and cause of death, with results pending further investigation, according to the medical examiner's office.

Janylah Mack, infant daughter of man charged with beating pregnant fiancee and killing toddler son, dies

Jeff Mayes — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 10:53:56 -0600

By LUKE WILUSZ
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Devon Thomas | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.

Four-month-old Janylah Mack died Thursday from injuries suffered in utero when her father allegedly beat her pregnant mother and killed her 3-year-old brother Tayveon J. Thomas.

Janylah was pronounced dead at 10:09 a.m. Thursday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy Friday found the baby, who lived in the West Side Humboldt Park neighborhood, died from complications of injuries her mother suffered in an assault while pregnant. Her death was ruled a homicide.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is investigating her death, according to spokeswoman Veronica Resa.

A DCFS statement said Janylah died “as the result of injuries suffered in utero from an apparent domestic violence incident that took place when the mother was 34 weeks into her pregnancy, October 31, 2016.”

Her father, Devon Thomas, 22, was charged with murder and aggravated battery in November for an attack on his 3-year-old son Tayveon, and his then-pregnant mother, authorities said at the time.

Tayveon J. Thomas | Facebook

Thomas is also under investigation for abusing Tayveon, who died Oct. 31, 2016, Resa said. His mother is also being investigated for neglect in connection with Tayveon’s death.

A 1-year-old sibling was taken into DCFS care following Tayveon’s death and remains in the department’s custody, Resa said.

Thomas punched Tayveon several times in front of the boy’s mother on Oct. 30, 2016, prosecutors said at his bond hearing. When the 23-year-old woman tried to stop him, he allegedly choked her until she lost consciousness.

The next day, at the couple’s apartment, Thomas punched Tayveon several times in the chest and torso, prosecutors said. He went on to stomp on the boy’s legs, arms and body with his boots.

At that time, Tayveon’s mother came into the room to give him medicine. When she saw the boy being beaten, she tried to intervene, according to prosecutors. But Thomas slapped her across the face, knocking her into the wall, and grabbed her by her ponytail.

Thomas ended up dragging his fiancee by her hair to the front room of the apartment, where they started arguing, prosecutors said. The woman eventually went back to check on Tayveon. She saw him lying face down on the bed with his body against the wall.

Tayveon’s mother began chest compressions and CPR, and called Thomas, who called 911 and continued with chest compressions until paramedics arrived, prosecutors said.

The woman began having chest pains and gave birth prematurely to Janylah a few hours after Tayveon died, prosecutors said.

Thomas is being held without bond at the Cook County Jail, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office. His next court date is scheduled for March 16. He has not yet been charged in connection with Janylah's death/

WEEK IN REVIEW: Another 28 people killed, including brother and sister shot together, baby boy shot by father

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 16:00:36 -0600

By JEFF MAYES
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

At least 28 people died from violence last week, including 10 over a bloody weekend that pushed the city's murder total closer to the 700 mark than it has been in many years.

The week's total, more reminiscent of a summer weekend that early November, brought the 2016 homicide total to an unofficial 665, according to figures compiled by the Chicago Sun-Times Wire.

Two of those were a brother and sister killed in a domestic-related shooting that also left two other people critically wounded early Thursday in the South Chicago neighborhood; and a 3-year-old boy beaten to death by his father Monday in West Pullman, according to police.

Four people were shot by a "known suspect" in the 8000 block of South Shore Drive about 12:10 a.m., according to Chicago Police. The suspect got into an argument with one of the victims and it turned physical, police said. He left the home, but returned with a gun and shot all four victims.

A 20-year-old woman, Emoni House; and her 16-year-old brother, Elijah House, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Emoni House suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and Elijah House suffered a gunshot wound to the back. Both lived in the home where the shooting happened.

A 42-year-old woman was shot in the chest, and a 30-year-old woman was also shot, police said. They were taken in critical condition to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. No one was in custody.

The death of a 3-year-old boy Monday in the West Pullman neighborhood on the Far South Side was ruled a homicide, and days later, his father was charged with murder. Police were called at 8:23 a.m. to an apartment in the 12200 block of South Green, where they found the boy with “visible injuries,” according to police spokeswoman Officer Michelle Tannehill.

Tayveon J. Thomas was taken to Roseland Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:15 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office. An autopsy Tuesday found he died of multiple injuries due to child abuse.

Later in the week, 22-year-old Devon Thomas was charged with murder and aggravated battery. Prosecutors said he killed Tayveon after punching and stomping on his body, then beat his pregnant fiancee when she tried to intervene, according to prosecutors. He was ordered held without bond.
The week's final homicide was man stabbed to death Sunday night in the Chatham neighborhood. At 11:19 p.m., 46-year-old Kevin Faulkner got into a fight with another man on the sidewalk in the 8300 block of South Cottage Grove, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. That’s when he was stabbed multiple times in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A man was shot to death Sunday afternoon in the South Austin neighborhood. Travis R. Harris, 18, was found at 4:23 p.m. lying on the ground in the 4900 block of West West End, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Harris had been shot in the torso and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about half an hour later. He lived on the same block.
A man was killed and another wounded in a Roseland neighborhood shooting about two hours earlier. About 2:15 p.m., 19-year-old Keith Hayes Jr. was standing with a 21-year-old man on a sidewalk in the 11100 block of South Michigan when a gunman walked up, opened fire and then ran away, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. They were taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where Hayes died of a gunshot wound to the hip at 10:27 p.m., authorities said. The older man was shot in the leg and his condition was stabilized.
A man was fatally shot early Sunday in the West Elsdon neighborhood on the Southwest Side. Luis Villa, 36, was sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked car about 12:30 a.m. in the 5600 block of South Kolmar when a silver vehicle pulled alongside and someone inside opened fire, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Villa was shot in the side of his torso and was pronounced dead at the scene. He lived on the same block.
A man was shot to death Saturday night in the Longwood Manor neighborhood on the South Side. Adama Moye, 22, was sitting in a car about 10 p.m. in the first block of West 98th Street when a dark vehicle pulled alongside and someone inside fired shots, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Moye was shot in the chest and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead.
A man was shot to death Saturday afternoon in the Washington Heights neighborhood on the Far South Side. Elijah Terry, 23, was standing outside at 3:39 p.m. in the 10100 block of South Halsted when another male walked up, pulled a gun and opened fire, according to authorities. Terry was shot in the face and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead.
A man was shot to death early Saturday outside a gas station in Chatham. About 1:45 a.m., officers responding to a call of a person shot at a gas station in the 8200 block of South State Street found 23-year-old Rushun "Shawn" Gaddis in a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds, according to police. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 54-year-old woman was found shot to death early Saturday in the West Englewood neighborhood. Officers responding to a call of a person shot just after 1 a.m. found Cynthia D. Richardson on the lawn of her home in the 5900 block of South Winchester with a gunshot wound to the neck, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
An 18-year-old man was shot to death late Friday along the border of the Park Manor and Chatham neighborhoods. About 11 p.m., Deon Virges ran into a store in the first block of East 75th Street with a gunshot wound to the throat, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Virges, who had been heading to the store to buy something for his grandmother, collapsed and died at the scene, authorities said.
Another 18-year-old man was shot to death Friday evening in the West Side Austin neighborhood. Seneka Harrison was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the chest in an alley about 5 p.m. in the 4700 block of West Congress, according to authorities. Harrison was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A 28-year-old man was fatally shot Friday afternoon in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood. At 1:47 p.m., Steven Hicks was walking in the 8900 block of South Parnell when a car drove by and someone inside fired shots, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Hicks was shot in the face, chest and hand; and was pronounced dead at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
Solomon Walker was killed and another man wounded by errant gunfire in an Austin neighborhood shooting late Thursday. About 10:45 p.m., officers responding to a call of a person shot in the 5000 block of West Concord found the 22-year-old Walker on a sidewalk with a gunshot wound to the head. He was dead at the scene. A 34-year-old man who was standing on a corner nearby was shot in the right leg. He was taken to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, where his condition was stabilized. He wasn’t thought to be an intended target.
Francisco Guzman was shot to death Thursday evening in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. The 19-year-old was shot in the head at 6:20 p.m. in the 4800 block of South Laflin, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A man was found shot to death in the Marquette Park neighborhood Wednesday night. Officers responded about 9:40 p.m. to a call of a person shot and found 27-year-old Richard Porter face-down on the sidewalk in the 7300 block of South Maplewood, according to authorities. Porter had suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.
A man was shot to death Wednesday evening in East Garfield Park. Authorities said 51-year-old Gregory Wong was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the head at 7:21 p.m. in the 3000 block of West 5th Avenue. Wong was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 27-year-old man was shot to death Wednesday night in the Park Manor neighborhood. About 7 p.m., officers responded to a call of a person shot in the 7100 block of South Rhodes. They found 27-year-old Terrell Griffin lying on the ground. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died.
A man died Wednesday, five days after he was found shot on a Homan Square neighborhood sidewalk. Officers responding to an unrelated call about 10:30 a.m. Oct. 28 in the 3400 block of West Lexington found the 25-year-old on a corner with multiple gunshot wounds, including at least one to the head, according to police. Larry Matthews was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died at 8:22 a.m. Wednesday, according to the medical examiner’s office.
A man was shot to death Tuesday night in West Englewood. Officers responding to reports of shots fired at 9:16 p.m. in the 6700 block of South Wolcott found 32-year-old Douglas Bowman lying unresponsive in the street, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Bowman had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead.
A 51-year-old man was killed in a drive-by shooting early Tuesday in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. Donald Dockery was standing outside at 2:37 a.m. in the 600 block of North Ridgeway when a vehicle drove by and someone inside fired shots, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Dockery was shot in the back and pronounced dead at the scene.
Two more men were fatally shot Tuesday morning in West Englewood. They were sitting on a porch in the 1800 block of West 58th Street about 10:45 a.m. when a dark Chevrolet drove by and a passenger fired shots, according to police.
Raymond D. Griffin, 30, was shot in the neck and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died at 6:30 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office. He lived on the block where the shooting happened. Tidarrius Smith, 31, who also lived on the same block, was shot in the back and was taken to Stroger, where he died at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday.
A man was killed and another wounded in a shooting early Tuesday in the Roseland neighborhood. Officers heard loud reports at 12:37 a.m. and found the victims on the street with gunshot wounds in the 11100 block of South Michigan, according to police.
Gerald Gordon, 19, was shot in the chest, and was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. The other man, 22, was shot in the head, and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where his condition was stabilized.
A man was shot to death Monday evening in the North Side Uptown neighborhood, police said, but his identity had not been released more than a week later. The 24-year-old was outside about 7 p.m. in the 4600 block of North Kenmore when an SUV pulled up to him and someone inside shot him in the side. He was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he died, police said.
A 28-year-old man died Monday, more than a month after he was shot in the Chatham neighborhood. Kevin Wilson was walking down the street at 12:53 a.m. Sept. 27 in the 300 block of East 81st Street when two males came up behind him and opened fire, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.
Wilson, shot twice in the back, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died at 1:01 p.m. Monday, according to the medical examiner’s office. An autopsy found he died of complications from multiple gunshot wounds.
A man was shot to death early Monday in an Englewood neighborhood apartment. Mark Higgins Jr., 28, was found about 4 a.m. with gunshot wounds to the head and chest on the kitchen floor of a second-floor apartment in the 1100 block of West Garfield, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Higgins, who lived on the same block, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Prosecutors say Devon Thomas killed his 3-year-old son Devon, then beat the boy's pregnant mother

Jeff Mayes — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 13:54:44 -0500

By RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Devon Thomas | Chicago Police

A Far South Side man killed his 3-year-old son Tayveon J. Thomas after punching and stomping on his body, then beat his pregnant fiancee when she tried to intervene, according to Cook County prosecutors.

The woman—who is the mother of Tayveon—ended up delivering her newborn prematurely hours after Tayveon died on Halloween, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Holly Grosshans said in court.

Tayveon’s autopsy revealed signs of child abuse. The child had fresh cuts to his face and scalp, abdominal interior bleeding, and lung contusions, Grosshans said.

Devon Thomas first punched Tayveon several times in front of the boy’s mother on Sunday, Grosshans said. When the 23-year-old woman tried to stop Thomas, he allegedly choked her until she lost consciousness.

Tayveon vomited and had a stomach ache as a result, Grosshans said. His mother ended up giving him generic Pepto-Bismol.

Tayveon Thomas | Facebook

The next day at the couple’s apartment, in the 12000 block of South Green Street, the 22-year-old Thomas again punched Tayveon several times in the chest and torso, Grosshans said.

He went on to stomp with his boots on the toddler's legs, arms and body, Grosshans said.

At that time, Tayveon’s mother came into the room to give him medicine. When she saw the boy being beaten, she tried to intervene. But Thomas slapped her across the face, knocking her into the wall, and grabbed her by her ponytail, Grosshans said.

Thomas ended up dragging his fiancee by her hair to the front room of the apartment, where they started arguing, Grosshans said.

The woman eventually went back to check on Tayveon. She saw him lying face-down on the bed with his body against the wall, Grosshans said.

Tayveon’s mother began chest compressions and CPR, and called Thomas, who called 911 and continued with chest compressions until Chicago Fire Department paramedics arrived, Grosshans said.

Tayveon was taken to Roseland Hospital, where he died Monday afternoon, Grosshans said.

A few hours later, his 8-month pregnant mother began having chest pain and gave birth, Grosshans said.

Thomas later admitted to detectives that he punched his son in the chest four times and kicked him once in the stomach, Grosshans said.

Thomas works at a temp agency, an assistant public defender said.

Judge Laura Sullivan ordered him held without bond on charges of murder and aggravated battery. His next court date is Nov. 22.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help offset funeral expenses for Tayveon.