Donnell Flora | Homicide Watch Chicago

Woman beats charges again in connection with 2014 slaying of 14-year-old Endia Martin

Jeff Mayes — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 11:49:40 -0600

By JON SEIDEL
Chicago Sun-Times

Vandetta Redwood in the lobby of the Dirksen Federal Building after a jury found her not guilty for her alleged role in the death of Endia Martin. | Jon Seidel/Sun-Times

Nearly three years after 14-year-old Endia Martin became a symbol of Chicago’s gun violence, a woman at the center of the street brawl that led to the teen’s death walked out of a courtroom a free woman.

Again.

A federal jury handed a rare loss to federal prosecutors Thursday, acquitting 35-year-old Vandetta Redwood on charges that she gave a .38 special caliber revolver to Martin’s alleged killer, Redwood’s cousin, who was 14 at the time. The feds said Redwood gave her cousin instructions to “shoot that bitch.”

Jurors were not convinced. Redwood showed little reaction to the verdict when it was handed down in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve. But later, in the courthouse lobby, she broke down in tears.

“I want to tell the Martin family that I’m sorry for their loss,” Redwood said.

Endia Martin | photo provided

After pausing for a moment, Redwood added, “I’m sorry.”

Redwood was the second person to go on trial in connection with the April 2014 slaying, the result of a fight over a boy that began on social media and spilled into the 900 block of West Garfield.

But Redwood’s trial came to a bizarre end. Redwood interrupted closing arguments Wednesday, screaming that “they f—ing lied on me.” She attacked a key piece of evidence during her outburst — a cell phone video of the fight that preceded the shooting. She yelled, “they made that video up.”

Later, Redwood’s attorneys were accused of taking photos during the prosecutors’ closing arguments, and the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed Thursday that both were charged with a misdemeanor for doing so.

Also on Thursday, defense attorneys tried to introduce a last-minute witness, even after jury deliberations had begun. They claimed to have discovered a new video that shows someone else passed the gun to the accused shooter.

After the verdict was read, Redwood told reporters “I’m just tore up inside. I’m still stressed out.” But she declined to answer questions about whether she had given the gun to her cousin.

The prosecutors’ case hinged largely on the cellphone video, but the video itself does not convict Redwood. The feds conceded it did not show Redwood handing the gun to her cousin, arguing instead that “tell-tale signs” on the video would corroborate other witnesses’ testimony.

Cook County prosecutors tried to use that video against Redwood in the days after Martin’s death, charging her with mob action and obstruction of justice. Cook County Judge Donald Panarese Jr. quickly dismissed those charges in 2014, calling the cell phone video “choppy” and “poor.”

Donnell Flora | Chicago Police

Redwood wouldn’t be charged in federal court until February 2016. The charges landed days after Redwood’s other cousin, Donnell Flora, was convicted in Cook County court of the murder of Martin and the attempted murder of another girl, Lanekia Reynolds, who was also wounded.

Flora was accused of first handing the gun to the alleged shooter. The feds say the teen handed it to Redwood before then taking it back.

The alleged shooter, who is not being named because she was charged as a juvenile, is still awaiting trial.

Flora has been sentenced to 100 years in prison.

Teen accused of shooting Endia Martin in social media feud will get jury trial in juvenile court

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 14:46:48 -0500

By RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Endia Martin | photo provided

A Cook County Juvenile Court judge on Tuesday rejected a prosecutors’ motion to keep the teenage girl accused of murdering Endia Martin from having a jury trial.

Under the Juvenile Court Act, the girl, now 16, isn’t eligible to have a jury trial because she doesn’t have a history of being in trouble with the law, Assistant State’s Attorney Athena Farmakis argued.

Judge Stuart Katz, reading a written ruling, denied that request.

The girl’s trial is scheduled for May 16.

The accused shooter killed the 14-year-old Martin and wounded Martin's best friend, Lanekia Reynolds, on April 28, 2014, after a feud on social media over a boy, according to prosecutors.

Donnell Flora | Chicago Police

The girl’s uncle, 27-year-old Donnell Flora, was sentenced to 100 years in prison last month for his murder and attempted murder convictions tied to the deadly shooting.

Flora provided the weapon used in the crime in the 900 block of West Garfield.

Flora’s cousin, Vandetta Redwood, was likewise accused in federal court in February of helping to supply the loaded .38-caliber revolver.

Vandetta Redwood | Chicago Police

She was originally charged days after the shooting with mob action and obstruction of justice. But Cook County Judge Donald Panarese Jr. dismissed the case weeks later, calling cellphone video evidence supporting those charges “choppy” and “poor.”

During Flora’s trial, defense attorneys said it was Redwood who coaxed the minor, then 14, to pull the trigger by commanding her to “shoot the bitch.”

Man sentenced to 100 years for providing gun used to kill 14-year-old Endia Martin in 2014

Jeff Mayes — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 17:54:39 -0500

By ANDY GRIMM
Chicago Sun-Times

Donnell Flora | Chicago Police

The man who provided the gun used to kill 14-year-old Endia Martin was sentenced Monday to 100 years in prison after being convicted of murder.

“There are no excuses or rationalization for giving a child a gun to take to a ridiculous fight about a boy,” Judge Thaddeus Wilson said at the sentencing for Donnell Flora.

“Children in this city are dying by the hundreds because adults fail to and/or refuse to be adults,” the judge said.

Endia Martin | photo provided

Flora, who is paralyzed from the waist down from a 2009 shooting, showed up in court with a Bible in his lap.

“I want to say I’m sorry for what happened. It never was supposed to go the way it went,” Flora told the judge.

“I wish I could trade places with (Endia), but I can’t. Due to the stupid action I’ve made, I’m going to suffer for the rest of my life,” Flora said.

At his trial in January, prosecutors said he handed a gun to his 14-year-old niece that she used to kill 14-year-old Endia in 2014.

The niece, who is now 16, is awaiting trial in Cook County Juvenile Court.

Judge sets tentative juvenile court trial date of May 16 for teenage girl accused of fatally shooting Endia Martin

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 13:15:58 -0600

By RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A Cook County Juvenile Court judge on Wednesday set a tentative May 16 trial date for the teenage girl accused of murdering Endia Martin.

Judge Stuart Katz had previously granted the defense’s motion for a jury trial. But prosecutors have filed a motion, asking him to reconsider his decision.

Katz is expected to give his ruling on the matter April 5, according to Cook County state’s attorney’s office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton.

The accused shooter, now 16, killed the 14-year-old Martin and wounded her best friend, Lanekia Reynolds, on April 28, 2014, following a feud on social media over a boy, according to prosecutors.

Endia Martin | photo provided

The girl’s uncle, 27-year-old Donnell Flora, was convicted in January of first-degree murder in Martin’s death, as well as the attempted murder of Reynolds for providing the weapon in the shooting in the 900 block of West Garfield.

Flora’s cousin, Vandetta Redwood, was likewise accused in a federal court last month of helping to supply the loaded .38-special revolver

Flora admitted during his trial that he gave his niece the gun before she confronted girls she had been trading barbs with on Facebook. But Flora said he told the girl to give the weapon to Redwood, and he saw her do so.

Flora’s attorney said it was Redwood who coaxed the minor, then 14, to pull the trigger by commanding her to “shoot the bitch.”

Aunt faces federal charge of giving gun to teenage niece charged with killing Endia Martin

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 14:00:28 -0600

By JON SEIDEL
Chicago Sun-Times

The aunt of the girl accused of fatally shooting Endia Martin has been indicted by a federal grand jury for her role in the 14-year-old’s 2014 murder.

Vandetta Redwood | Chicago Police

faces 10 years in federal prison if convicted after she was indicted for giving a loaded .38-caliber revolver to a minor. U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez ordered Redwood into custody Thursday after she pleaded not guilty at her arraignment, according to federal prosecutors.

Redwood invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to testify last month when she took the witness stand during the trial of her cousin, Donnell Flora. A jury found Flora guilty of first-degree murder in Martin’s death.

Endia Martin | photo provided

Cook County prosecutors accused him of providing the gun to his then-14-year-old niece, who used it to kill Martin in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on April 28, 2014.

Cook County prosecutors originally charged Redwood with mob action and obstruction of justice, but those charges were dismissed in May 2014.

Now she faces a federal indictment that contends Redwood knew her niece planned to use the gun in a murder, and she possessed it within 1,000 feet of Oliver Wendell Holmes Elementary School and Visitation Catholic School.

“Prosecuting federal weapons laws is a top priority of our office,” U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon said in a statement. “We will not hesitate to use every available federal tool to charge those responsible for furthering the cycle of violence in Chicago.”

Donnell Flora | Cook County sheriff's office

Donnell Flora guilty of murder for providing gun to girl who killed Endia Martin over Facebook fight

Jeff Mayes — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 11:23:17 -0600

By RUMMANA HUSSAIN and PATRICK JUDGE
Chicago Sun-Times

Donnell Flora | Cook County sheriff's office

Donnell Flora said he has been like a father to his teenage niece since his brother was gunned down.

But instead of being a role model, Flora, who is paralyzed from the waist down from a 2009 shooting, coaxed the girl toward a life of violence when he handed her the gun Cook County prosecutors said she used to kill 14-year-old Endia Martin.

On Saturday, a jury found Flora guilty of first-degree murder in Endia’s death and of attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of Lanekia Reynolds, who was wounded in the April 28, 2014, incident.

“We believe justice was served today for Endia,” said Kent Kennedy, her stepfather. “And we’d like to give thanks to God that the jury saw what really transpired.”

Endia Martin | photo provided

Of Flora, Kennedy said, “Without him, our daughter Endia Martin would still be alive.”

“Justice was served,” said assistant state’s attorney Athena Farmakis.

As Cook County Circuit Judge Thaddeus Wilson read over the jury’s decision, Endia’s family held hands and prayed. When they heard the guilty verdict, they quickly left the courtroom and, once outside, let out a joyful cry of relief.

In the courtroom, Flora broke into tears and rocked back and forth in his wheelchair.

“We believe justice was served today for Endia,” said Kent Kennedy, her stepfather. | Patrick Judge / Sun-Times

Flora’s niece, now 16, is awaiting trial in Cook County Juvenile Court.

Flora’s attorney, Joel Brodsky, said his client hadn’t intended to commit a crime.

“Making a negligent mistake is not criminal,” Brodsky said. “Criminal is meaning to do a criminal act. And I don’t think he ever intended to do a criminal act.”

The accused shooter and Reynolds used to be friends but then started fighting over a boy. The feud eventually spilled over to Facebook, where Reynolds threatened the girl by telling her that she would end up like her “daddy.”

But Reynolds, 18, testified she never was planning to kill her foe when they agreed to settle their difference that afternoon in the 900 block of West Garfield.

Reynolds said she confronted the girl with a combination lock tied to a rope after the girl tried to hit her on the head with the gun.

Reynolds and Endia initially had run inside their friend’s house when they saw the girl coming down the street with a swelling crowd behind her.

But when the girl motioned that she wanted to fight, Reynolds came out. Endia had come out to support her friend when the shots were fired in an incident caught on cellphone video.

Defense attorney Joel Brodsky, center, said he will appeal the case. | Patrick Judge / Sun-Times

Flora had accompanied his niece to the fight and admitted he brought a gun for back up. But he testified during the five-day trial that said he told the girl to give the gun to his cousin, Vandetta Redwood.

Redwood, according to defense attorneys, encouraged the girl’s deadly acts by telling her, “Shoot the bitch.”

While being held at the Cook County Jail, Flora admitted to another inmate, Tony Polk, that he gave his niece the weapon and proclaimed that Endia “deserved” to die, according to testimony.

Flora also had harsh words for the girl he viewed as his daughter for speaking with detectives, Polk testified.

“If that b---- never opened her mouth, I never would have been in this s---,” Flora complained, according to Polk, who is in prison for aggravated robbery.

Mob action and obstruction of justice charges were filed against Redwood but were later dismissed.

John Branscomb, who prosecutors said Flora passed the gun to after Endia was shot in the back, was convicted of a weapons charge.

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.

Mom: Teen suspect in 14-year-old Endia Martin's shooting death 'feels bad too'

Michael Lansu — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 17:15:29 -0500

Endia Martin / Photo from Family

BY JON SEIDEL AND RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

The mother of the 14-year-old girl accused of shooting her onetime friend in the back after a feud on Facebook said Wednesday she is “so sorry” for the death of Endia Martin.

The alleged shooter’s mother, who the Chicago Sun-Times is not identifying because her daughter has been charged as a juvenile, told the Sun-Times that her daughter “feels bad too.” The girl disputed the official account of Martin’s death and told her mother after the shooting: “It did not happen like that.”

“She was very hurt,” the mother said of her daughter. “Her and the little girl used to be friends.”

But the mother claimed Endia, also 14, and her friends “jumped on” her daughter last year, and the feud picked up again recently on Facebook. She even said her daughter’s life was threatened, and that someone told her daughter they would “lay her where her daddy’s at.”

The woman said her daughter’s father died when she was 9 months old.

“She’s hurt about the whole situation,” the woman said.

Finally, the woman said she didn’t know about her daughter’s juvenile court hearing Tuesday afternoon, where the teenage girl faced charges that included first-degree murder and attempted murder without any family in the courtroom. The judge said at the hearing the girl’s mother “obviously” knew about it.

“We’ve never been through anything like this before,” she said.

Meanwhile, the girl’s uncle was ordered held on $3 million bail Wednesday. Cook County prosecutors said the paralyzed, wheelchair-bound man took the bus to hand her the fully loaded weapon knowing there would be a fight.

Before the 14-year-old suspect went to confront two girls about an ongoing dispute she had with them about a boy, she asked Donnell Flora for a gun, Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini said.

Flora, 25, agreed with his niece’s request and got on a bus with the .38-caliber revolver Monday afternoon, Santini said.

Once at the 900 block of Garfield Boulevard, Flora gave the girl the gun before the shooting, Santini said.

The entire crime was captured on a cellphone video taken by a witness, prosecutors revealed Wednesday.

On Tuesday, prosecutors at the bond hearing for the 14-year-old suspect said that the gun had jammed before Endia was shot, but prosecutor’s discussing Flora’s case didn’t mention the gun jamming.

Instead, Santini said that the 14-year-old armed with a gun first pointed the weapon at the aunt of the 16-year-old victim who eventually was shot in the left bicep in Monday’s incident.

The aunt pushed the armed girl’s hand away but then the girl took the gun and hit the 16-year-old girl in the head with it, Santini said.

The 16-year-old tried swinging a lock on a chain at the girl with the gun but missed, Santini said.

The 14-year-old suspect then fired as the victims tried fleeing into a home.

Endia was shot in the back as she tried to escape the bullets.

After the shooting, Flora got his gun back, Santini said.

But he allegedly didn’t hold on to it for too long.

Flora gave the gun to a 17-year-old boy who was apprehended with it a short time later, Santinti said.

Both the 17-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl told authorities that Flora had given them the gun, Santini said.

Flora also allegedly confessed to giving the gun to his niece.

Flora, of the 8300 block of South Buffalo Avenue, is charged with murder, attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm.

He uses a wheelchair and can’t use his legs after he was shot on June 17, 2010, assistant public defender Ruth McBeth said.

Flora has two previous felony convictions for possession of a stolen motor vehicle. He also has a 2011 possession of cannabis conviction.

The 14-year-old alleged shooter was ordered to remain in custody on Tuesday.

And the 17-year-old boy was expected to appear in Juvenile Court on Thursday for his role in the crime, according to State’s Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Lisa Gordon.

Endia Martin, 14, fatally shot in Back of the Yards

Michael Lansu — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 09:06:37 -0500

Endia Martin / Photo from Facebook

BY MITCH DUDEK, JON SEIDEL AND BECKY SCHLIKERMAN
Chicago Sun-Times

A 14-year-old girl was charged with first-degree murder Tuesday after allegedly shooting another teenage girl in an argument over a boy, police said.

The suspect was charged as a juvenile in the death Monday afternoon of 14-year-old Endia Martin, police said.

In addition, the shooters uncle, Donnell Flora, of the 8300 block of South Buffalo, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery, police said. A 17-year-old boy was also charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

On Monday afternoon, the 14-year-old girl pulled a gun from her waistband, authorities said, and aimed it at Endia Martin, who is the same age as the alleged shooter.

When the teen pulled the trigger, it jammed, prosecutors said during a bond hearing Tuesday for the alleged shooter.

She handed the gun to someone in the group she was with who fixed the weapon and handed it back to the girl, who then fatally shot Endia, also 14, in the back, prosecutors alleged.

Crime scene where Endia Martin was killed / Photo by Richard A. Chapman

The victim and the alleged shooter once were friends, one of Endia’s cousins said.

The tragedy was just one more argument for tighter gun laws, Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said Tuesday.

“What would have been, under any other circumstances, probably a fistfight between two 14-year-old girls because of an argument over a boy turned into a murder,” McCarthy said. “That’s insanity. This is madness, folks. This is madness,” he said.

The gun used in the shooting, a legal .38-caliber revolver, was kept in the owner’s car but was reported stolen April 14, McCarthy said. Police departments don’t let officers store their guns in their cars, but under the state’s concealed-carry law, individuals who are properly permitted can.

“I’m very frustrated. I’m sickened. Three 14-year-old lives were changed forever yesterday with an introduction of a gun into a fistfight,” McCarthy said.

The shooting took place about 4:30 p.m. in the 900 block of West Garfield Boulevard. A group of teenagers was standing on the sidewalk outside Endia’s cousins’ house when the altercation broke out.

Endia, of the 5300 block of South Wallace Street, died at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital 40 minutes later. Another girl was shot in the arm. The shooter fled, but was arrested minutes later.

A cousin of Endia’s who asked not to be named said Endia and the girl who shot her were old friends.

On Tuesday afternoon, the alleged shooter stood in juvenile court wearing a pink shirt, her hands cuffed behind her back.

Charged with murder, she answered the judge’s questions in a quiet, mostly inaudible voice.

Assistant State’s Attorney Kathleen Kain said the girl should remain in custody because she is charged with an “extremely horrific event” that occurred in the middle of the afternoon on a public way. The premeditation is clear, she said, because the gun malfunctioned, and she took time to get it working before firing. Kain argued the girl is a danger to the public and herself. Cook County Judge Stuart Paul Katz ordered the girl, who gave a videotaped confession, to remain in custody. The maximum penalty could be incarceration until the girl’s 21st birthday, Katz said.

According to the girl’s public defender, she lives with her mother and plays basketball for her high school. No family members of the girl appeared in court.

On Tuesday evening, a 17-year-old boy also was charged as a juvenile for his role in helping to hide the murder weapon.

Endia was a freshman at Tilden High School. The girl charged with her murder attended John Hope College Prep High School, which had extra security Tuesday. A male classmate told a Sun-Times reporter the girl had a temper problem. A female classmate said she was “cool, a chill type of person.”

Jeremy McCregg, 34, said his niece, a 16-year-old student at Hope, asked for a ride home Tuesday. “There’s been a lot of rumors about what’s going to happen. I’m not going to take any chances.”

At the site of the shooting, Endia’s friends and family, as well as classmates who never knew her, gathered for memorial Tuesday afternoon that included a balloon release, song and prayer. At one point, a group of boys thought they saw someone on a bicycle who may have played a role in the shooting and began chasing him.

Endia’s family struggled to understand how a feud that began on Facebook ended in gunfire.

Endia’s stepfather, Kent Kennedy, said she was big dreamer who wanted to visit Paris and Rome and join the Navy or go to college.

“My daughter didn’t roam the streets at night,” said Kennedy, who works a number of jobs at Central Steel and Wire. “We were too strict. We had a strict curfew. She didn’t gang-bang. She never was in trouble with police.”

Kennedy and his wife, who works as a certified nursing assistant at a nursing home, were distraught Monday night.

“Me and my wife, we work constantly, every day raising three kids. ... And I hate to say it, but the good kids, the standout children who are trying to go to school and do something with their lives, they’re the ones who are actually dying in the streets. The ones who want to accomplish something in life,” he said. “It’s not a South Side thing or a West Side thing, it’s the city as a whole. It seems like you can’t walk down the street or even ride the bus any more.”

-- Contributing: Stefano Esposito, Tina Sfondeles, LeeAnn Shelton