UPDATE: Kevin Culverson wanted revenge for stolen property when he killed teen, prosecutors say

Michael Lansu — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 16:21:25 -0500

Kevin Culverson / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Kevin Culverson was bent on getting revenge on those who allegedly stole his property and confronted him about selling marijuana in his South Side neighborhood, prosecutors said.

But when he opened fire just blocks from President Barack Obama’s Chicago home on April 22, Culverson didn’t kill anyone he believed robbed and harassed him, authorities said.

Instead, Culverson gunned down 15-year-old Cornelius “Cornbread” German, who had nothing to do with the previous altercation, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Joe Crocker said Thursday.

Cornelius had left a backyard dice game with friends in the 5000 block of South Evans Avenue when he was gunned down, Crocker said.

Cornelius was making his way through a gangway to the front of the home to eventually meet his parents, who were on their way to pick him up.

But Culverson, who was in a nearby backyard, allegedly reached through a fence and shot Cornelius in the back.

Cornelius tried running away but he collapsed in a nearby lot, Crocker said.

Several witnesses said they saw 21-year-old Culverson in the adjacent backyard before the shooting and saw him running away after, Crocker said.

Shortly after the murder, Cornelius’ mother told the Chicago Sun-Times she knew something was wrong when she didn’t see the boy waiting at a Walgreens at the corner of 51st Street and Cottage Grove Avenue as planned.

“I had this sinking gut feeling something wasn’t right,” 42-year-old Timika Rutledge said. “I saw a police officer. He said a little kid got shot. Somehow, I knew it was my baby. I went back there. I saw my baby on the ground in the grass. I saw his gym shoes and his jacket.”

Cornelius, of the 1000 block of West 51st Street, was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Thursday, Judge Donald Panarese Jr. ordered Culverson, of the 700 block of East 50th Place, held in lieu of $1.5 million bond.

However, Culverson, who goes by the street name “Big Moe,” is already in custody with the Illinois Department of Corrections for a manufacturing and delivering cannabis near a school conviction from last summer.

He was originally sentenced to boot camp for the drug charge but had that sentenced revoked and was sent to prison for a year, Crocker said.

Culverson also has a 2011 possession of a stolen motor vehicle conviction.

Kevin Culverson charged with killing Cornelius German, 15, blocks from President Obama's home

Michael Lansu — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 09:30:26 -0500

Kevin Culverson / Photo from Chicago Police

Kevin Culverson has been charged with allegedly killing 15-year-old Cornelius “Cornbread” German during a dice game blocks from President Barack Obama’s Chicago home in April.

Culverson, 20, of the 700 block of East 50th Place, was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly firing a handgun into a crowd of people about 9:40 p.m. April 22, Chicago Police announced early Wednesday.

Cornelius had been playing dice with friends in the backyard of a home in the 5000 block of South Evans Avenue when he was fatally shot in the back, police and family said at the time.

The boy’s parents were en route to pick him up as shots rang out, family members told the Chicago Sun-Times.

When Cornelius was not waiting at a Walgreens at the corner of 51st Street and Cottage Grove Avenue as planned, annoyance shifted to apprehension -- and eventually to grief, as police cars streamed into the area.

“I had this sinking gut feeling something wasn’t right,” said the boy’s mother, 42-year-old Timika Rutledge. “I saw a police officer. He said a little kid got shot. Somehow, I knew it was my baby. I went back there. I saw my baby on the ground in the grass. I saw his gym shoes and his jacket.”

Cornelius, of the 1000 block of West 51st Street, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The boy’s friends later told Rutledge that Cornelius was leaving the dice game in the backyard when he was shot and that he wasn’t the intended target, an account police could not confirm.

Culverson was scheduled to appear in bond court on Wednesday.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Kevin Culverson | Homicide Watch Chicago

UPDATE: Kevin Culverson wanted revenge for stolen property when he killed teen, prosecutors say

Kevin Culverson charged with killing Cornelius German, 15, blocks from President Obama's home