Prosecutors: Dominique Hodrick was aiming for rival, but shot veteran Brooks teacher Betty Howard instead

Michael Lansu — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 17:12:27 -0500

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Dominique Hodrick had an ongoing dispute with a man nicknamed “Nookie,” so when Hodrick saw his rival driving in a car on the South Side he allegedly opened fire.

Hodrick missed “Nookie,” but he shot and killed veteran special education teacher Betty Howard in the chest while she worked her second job at Kale Reality in the 700 block of East 79th Street, Cook County prosecutors said.

A 58-year-old man who was also working at Kale Reality suffered a graze wound to his abdomen when the bullets went through the office wall in the May 29th shooting.

And a 23-year-old woman walking her dog outside was left with a graze wound to her hand, Assistant State’s Attorney Glen Runk said before Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. ordered Hodrick held without bond Thursday.

Hodrick, 23, was inside a building on the opposite side of 79th Street when he saw “Nookie,” Runk said.

He then opened the front door, pulled a handgun from his waist and started shooting, Runk said.

According to a police report, another offender was with Hodrick at the time.

Dominique Hodrick / Photo from Chicago Police

Howard, a 58-year-old special education teacher at Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy, immediately fell to the floor when she was shot.

Hodrick went back into the building he was in after the shooting, Runk said.

He was caught on surveillance camera looking out the front door, opening the door and pulling out a weapon, Runk said.

Hodrick, of the 7900 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue, allegedly admitted he fired the shots and identified himself in the video stills.

He was also identified on tape by various police officers who had contact with him before.

Hodrick, who was arrested while riding in a car in Lansing Tuesday, was sentenced to two year’s probation in 2012 for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and for having a defaced firearm.

He has three previous misdemeanors for aggravated assault, reckless conduct, and criminal trespass to land. He will be back in court for the murder charge on July 1.

Following Thursday’s bond hearing Howard’s husband and niece said they were glad Hodrick was off the streets and behind bars.

Howard had only started working at the real estate office three to four months ago, Kristal Long, 34, said.

Betty Howard/ Photo from Family

She was trying to make “ends meet” and never felt as if she was in danger at the real estate office, Howard’s husband, Major Howard said.

Major Howard said his wife was a wonderful person who was “full of life” and “deserved to live.”

Long described her aunt as a “happy” and helpful person who was active in her church.

“If you can shoot a gun in broad daylight, with no regards for anyone out there, then absolutely, he [Hodrick] is a danger to society,” Long said.

“To know that she was at work. She was just trying doing her job and for something like this to happen, it makes it that much more harder to deal with.”

Dominique Hodrick charged with murder in death of Brooks teacher Betty Howard

Michael Lansu — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 01:00:36 -0500

Dominique Hodrick / Photo from Chicago Police

Dominique Hodrick has been charged with murder for allegedly shooting 58-year-old Brooks special education teacher Betty Howard last month in the Chatham neighborhood.

Hodrick is accused of shooting Howard about 5:30 p.m. in the 7900 block of South Evans Avenue, authorities said.

Howard, of the 2200 block of South 14th Avenue in Broadview, was shot working her second job in her Chatham real estate office, her family said.

As a teacher at Brooks, Howard would travel to homes to teach disabled students — doing whatever it took to help some of the city’s most challenged youth, Brooks College Preparatory Academy Principal D’Andre Weaver said.

Howard, who taught at Brooks for seven years, even rode school buses to help out when school aides were absent, Weaver said.

Betty Howard/ Photo from Family

“It’s crazy, she wasn’t a thief, she didn’t harm anyone,” Long said, noting Howard’s brother, Orlando Long, is a police officer. “This isn’t how it was supposed to end for her.”

Hodrick, 33, of the 7900 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue, was charged with one count of first-degree murder, police said.

A 23-year-old woman was also wounded in the shooting and Hodrick was charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, police said.

In 2011, Hodrick was charged with possession of a firearm and not having a Firearms Owner ID card. The gun charge was dropped. He pleaded guilty to the FOID charge and was sentenced two years of probation, which he completed on March 4, according to court records.

Hodrick is expected in bond court later Thursday.

-- Chicago Sun-Times staff

Dominique Hodrick | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: Dominique Hodrick was aiming for rival, but shot veteran Brooks teacher Betty Howard instead

Dominique Hodrick charged with murder in death of Brooks teacher Betty Howard