Quinton Evans charged with murder in shooting death of Jesse White Tumbler Devonshay Lofton

Michael Lansu — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 13:12:20 -0500

Quinton Evans / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A 19-year-old South Side man was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bond Wednesday for allegedly shooting a teenage Jesse White Tumbler to death last week in the Old Town neighborhood.

Quinton Evans and his uncharged cohort were on their bicycles when they opened fire toward Devonshay Lofton and his friends, who were hanging out in the 1300 block of North Cleveland Avenue Thursday night, said Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Colleen Rogers.

Devonshay, of the 1300 block of North Hudson Avenue, was shot in the chest and died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, authorities said.

An officer on patrol heard the gunshots and was told by witnesses which direction the gunmen fled, Rogers said. That officer put out a flash message and another officer was able to chase Evans and his friends as they jumped off their bicycles and ran, Rogers said.

The second officer saw Evans pull a handgun from his waist area before he jumped under a SUV, Rogers said.

As the officer got out of his vehicle, he accidentally shot himself in the foot and the gunmen were able to escape, Rogers said.

A semi-automatic handgun recovered from the under the SUV where Evans was seen matched the casings left at the crime scene, Rogers said.

Evans was arrested for trespassing Monday in an unrelated incident. He was later identified by witnesses as one of Devonshay’s killers, authorities said.

Evans, of the 7900 block of South Stony Island Avenue, also faces misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass to state land and criminal trespass to real property.

Secretary of State Jesse White, who founded the tumbling team, said last week that Lofton, a Lincoln Park High student, had been a member of the team for about five years.

“He was a nice young man,” White said. “He was a gentleman in every way. He was well liked and highly respected.”

Devonshay “loved tumbling” and had performed at events throughout the Chicago area, White said. “It’s a sad day for us.”

Evans, who an assistant public defender said volunteered at a church, was discharged from parole in January for a 2012 weapons conviction.

He was found delinquent three times as a juvenile for robbery in 2008 and 2009. Evans was also found delinquent for an aggravated battery case in 2008.

-- Contributing: Michael Lansu

Quinton Evans | Homicide Watch Chicago

Quinton Evans charged with murder in shooting death of Jesse White Tumbler Devonshay Lofton