Roosevelt Shaffer | Homicide Watch Chicago

75-year-old pleads guilty to fatally stabbing Raymond Robinson during argument over jacket in Englewood retorement home

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 14:39:25 -0600

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Roosevelt Shaffer | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.

A 75-year-old man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for stabbing his friend Raymond Robinson to death nearly three years ago during an argument at the Englewood retirement home where they lived.

Roosevelt Shaffer pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder before Judge Nicholas Ford, according to Cook County court records.

About 10 a.m. on Feb. 14, 2014, Shaffer and the 69-year-old Robinson got into argument about a jacket at the Bethel Terrace Senior Living facility at 900 W. 63rd St., authorities said at the time.

Shaffer then stabbed Robinson in the chest with a boning knife, authorities said. Robinson was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died about an hour later.

After the stabbing, Shaffer went to his apartment, had a cigarette and washed the knife, authorities said. He admitted to the attack and said he thought he only "nicked" Robinson.

Judge Ford sentenced Shaffer to 12 years in prison Thursday, according to court records. He will receive credit for 1,044 days served in the Cook County Jail, and will get three years of supervised release.

He was booked into the Stateville Correctional Center to begin serving his sentence Friday, according to Illinois Department of Corrections records.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Four murdered in citywide violence

Michael Lansu — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 09:07:20 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Four people were murdered last week in citywide violence.

The youngest victim was a 20-month-old boy, while the oldest was a 69-year-old man. Two men have been charged with murder in those killings.

Two of the killings were shootings, one was a stabbing and the toddler died of child abuse.

The most recent murder happened when 72-year-old Roosevelt Shaffer fatally stabbed 69-year-old friend Raymond Robinson about 10 a.m. Friday in the Bethel Terrace Senior Living facility in the 900 block of West 63rd Street, authorities said.

Shaffer allegedly stabbed Robinson in with a boning knife after they argued about a jacket in the hallway outside Robinson’s room, according to court records.

Robinson died about an hour later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. ordered Shaffer held on $500,000 bond at a hearing Sunday.

On Thursday, officers responding to a call of shots fired found 30-year-old Andre Hughes dead in an alley about 9 p.m. in the 300 block of North Parkside Avenue in the Austin neighborhood, authorities said.

Hughes, of an unidentified home address, was shot multiple times and was dead at the scene, medical examiner’s office.

In the South Shore neighborhood, 26-year-old Vernon Henry allegedly beat his girlfriend's 20-month-old son Thursday morning in the 6900 block of South Cornell Avenue for being a "wuss," authorities said.

The boy, Adonta McCoy, died died Saturday at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office. He was diagnosed with severe brain injuries resulting from a lack of oxygen to the brain, multiple abrasions and bleeding in the eyes.

Prosecutors said an irritated Henry again called the child a “crybaby,” then grabbed Adonta by the arms, lifted him off the floor and shook him violently. The little boy’s head snapped back and forth and his jaw snapped open and closed.

Prosecutors said Henry put his hand around Adonta’s throat and choked the boy, who gasped for air but still sobbed. Henry then allegedly shoved Adonta into a dresser.

Judge Bourgeois ordered Henry held without bond at a Sunday hearing.

The killings started last week when 14-year-old Venzel Richardson was fatally shot about 8:20 p.m. Wednesday while walking with others in the 6100 block of South Vernon Avenue in the Woodlawn community, authorities said.

A van drove up to the group and somebody inside opened fire, striking Venzel multiple times, authorities said. Nobody else in the group was injured.

Venzel, of the 6400 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue, was dead on the scene, according to the medical examiner's office.

The Cook County medical examiner's office has ruled 36 Chicago deaths in 2014 homicides -- including one alleged robber fatally shot by a sheriff's lieutenant. Chicago Police, which counts murders different, has ruled at least three of those deaths involuntary manslaughter or justified self-defense.

UPDATE: Roosevelt Shaffer, 72, fatally stabbed 69-year-old friend in retirement home fight

Michael Lansu — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 21:13:38 -0600

Roosevelt Shaffer / Photo from Chicago Police

BY JON SEIDEL AND LEEANN SHELTON
Chicago Sun-Times

A 72-year-old man was ordered held on $500,000 bond Sunday, charged with stabbing his friend to death over a jacket at the retirement home where they both lived.

Roosevelt Shaffer, 72, is charged with one count of first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of Raymond Robinson, 69, at the Bethel Terrace Senior Living facility, according to police and prosecutors.

Robinson was stabbed in his chest about 10 a.m. Friday and taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he died about an hour later, authorities said.

The men, who were friends, lived at the facility at 900 W. 63rd St., prosecutors said.

Shaffer allegedly stabbed Robinson in with a boning knife after they argued about a jacket in the hallway outside Robinson’s room, according to court records.

Shaffer later admitted to the attack, prosecutors said. He said he thought he only “nicked” Robinson, and that the cut would require only a few stitches, according to court records.

After the stabbing, Shaffer went to his apartment, had a cigarette and washed the boning knife he used to stab Robinson, records show.

A witness saw the men standing together near the elevator and heard Robinson ask for an ambulance, prosecutors said.

Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. ordered Shaffer held on bond at a hearing Sunday.

According to a Chicago Police arrest report, Shaffer is a Gangster Disciples street gang member.

Roosevelt Shaffer, 72, charged with murder in stabbing death of 69-year-old Raymond Robinson in Englewood

Michael Lansu — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 20:28:06 -0600

Roosevelt Shaffer / Photo from Chicago Police

A 72-year-old man has been charged for allegedly stabbing a 69-year-old man to death Friday morning in Englewood.

Roosevelt Shaffer, of the 900 block of West 63rd Street, was charged with one count of first-degree murder, police said. He is expected to appear in court for a bond hearing Sunday.

Shaffer is accused of fatally stabbing Raymond Robinson in the chest during an argument in the 6900 block of West 63rd Street about 10 a.m. Friday, authorities said.

Robinson, of the 1600 block of North Lotus Avenue, was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he was pronounced dead at 10:56 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.