Man sentenced to 60 years for fatal shooting of Carnesha Fort, his roommate, during argument over money in 2014

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 16:20:47 -0600

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times

Erick Sanders | Illinois Dept. of Corrections

A man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for fatally shooting his roommate—mother of four Carnesha Fort—at their West Garfield Park neighborhood home in 2014.

Erick Sanders, 21, was found guilty of murder Dec. 13 after a bench trial before Judge Carol Howard, according to Cook County court records.

Sanders and his roommate, the 22-year-old Fort, had argued about his not paying enough for rent and groceries, and her use of Sanders’ LINK card, authorities said at the time.

About 10:45 p.m. June 6, 2014, Sanders went to their apartment in the 100 block of North Keeler and asked to use Fort’s phone to call a cab, authorities said. He left, but returned a few minutes later and went to the bathroom, before going into Fort’s bedroom and shooting her.

A witness heard a pop and saw Sanders run out, authorities said.

Fort was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced dead less than an hour later, authorities said.

Carnesha Fort | photo provided

Her four children—ages 3, 5, 7 and 8 at the time—were home when she was shot, Fort’s boyfriend, Darnell “LA” Tubbs, said at the time of her murder.

After the shooting, Sanders admitted to a friend that he had “messed up,” and asked his mother to drive him to Indiana, authorities said. However, on the way, he got a call from police asking him to return to the city because they had questions about the murder.

Sanders told his mother he didn’t want to go back to prison, then got out of her car and ran away at a gas station, authorities said. He had previously served a three-year sentence for a drug charge.

Judge Howard sentenced Sanders to 60 years in prison Friday, according to court records. He will receive credit for 927 days served in the Cook County Jail, and must serve three years of supervised release.

Sanders has begun serving his sentence at the Stateville Correctional Center, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections

Prosecutors: Erick Sanders killed roommate Carnesha Fort in fight over rent and groceries

Michael Lansu — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 11:53:55 -0500

Erick Sanders / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

After allegedly gunning down his on-and-off roommate in her bedroom last month, Cook County prosecutors said a sweaty and nervous Erick Sanders repeatedly admitted to a friend that he “messed up” and asked his mother to drive him to Indiana.

As the mother and son made their way south, Sanders got a call from police asking him to return to the city because they had questions about Carnesha Fort’s murder.

But 19-year-old Sanders, who got out of prison earlier this year, told his mother he didn’t want to go back behind bars and got out of her car and fled at a gas station before stealing her cell phone and $40, Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini said.

Sanders was back in prison Thursday after he was ordered held without bond for Fort’s June 6th murder.

Sanders had lived on and off with the mother of four and others in a Garfield Park residence after he was released from prison in February for violating his probation in a drug case.

But he had recently started fighting with Fort, 22, over his contributions for rent and groceries and Fort’s use of Sanders’ LINK card, Santini said.

On the night of the murder, Sanders came to the residence in the 100 block of North Keeler Avenue and asked to use Fort’s phone to call a cab, Santini said.

Sanders left the residence but came back a few minutes later claiming to have left his phone there, Santini said.

Sanders went to the bathroom before entering Fort’s bedroom and shooting her, Santini said.

A witness heard a pop and saw Sanders run out, prosecutors said.

Carnesha Fort / Family photo

Fort’s four children -- ages 3, 5, 7 and 8 -- were home when she was killed, her longtime boyfriend, Darnell “LA” Tubbs said.

A child was heard yelling from the window of the apartment for help, Santini said.

Sanders, whose address was listed in the 0-100 block of North Long, was allegedly identified by witnesses in a physical line-up.

Fort worked for Hudson Concessions in a stockroom at O’Hare International Airport, but had dreams of going back to school to pursue a career as a pharmacist, Tubbs said.

Erick Sanders | Homicide Watch Chicago

Man sentenced to 60 years for fatal shooting of Carnesha Fort, his roommate, during argument over money in 2014

Prosecutors: Erick Sanders killed roommate Carnesha Fort in fight over rent and groceries