Shawanda Swain | Homicide Watch Chicago

Shawanda Swain gets 12 years for fatally stabbing her boyfriend, Damani Chenier, during 2014 argument

Jeff Mayes — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 11:50:14 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Shawanda Swain | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.

A South Side woman was sentenced to 12 years in prison Wednesday for stabbing her boyfriend, Damani Chenier, to death during an argument in her Hyde Park apartment in 2014.

Shawanda Swain was found guilty of second-degree murder after a bench trial on June 30 before Judge Dennis Porter, according to Cook County court records.

Swain stabbed the 23-year-old Chenier in the chest on Oct. 9, 2014, authorities said at the time.

Swain, 21 at the time, was arguing with Chenier about 3:10 a.m. inside her apartment in the 5100 block of South Hyde Park Boulevard when she grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed him once, authorities said. A neighbor called 911.

Damani Chenier | Facebook

Chenier, 23, of the 10000 block of South Vernon Avenue, died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital about an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Swain, a home health care worker, was taken into custody after the attack. Her attorney argued she was being physically and verbally abused by her boyfriend, and acted in self-defense.

Judge Porter sentenced Swain to 12 years in prison during a hearing Wednesday, according to court records. She will receive credit for 671 days served in the Cook County Jail, and will have to serve two years of supervised release.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Eight killed throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 10:57:11 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

At least eight men were murdered throughout Chicago last week.

Three of the victims were fatally shot over the weekend, when at least 17 other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened when 20-year-old Juan Mercado was shot while sitting on a front porch in the 2300 block of North Melvina Avenue in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood about 6:45 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Mercado, of the 2200 block of North Mulligan Avenue, was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where he died less than an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

On Saturday, 22-year-old Eddie Taylor was shot when an argument started at a party in the 4400 block of West Madison Street in West Garfield Park about 1:10 a.m., authorities said.

Taylor, 22, of the 1900 block of South Homan Avenue, was shot in the face and died at the scene, authorities said. Three other people were wounded in the shooting.

On Friday, 20-year-old Roddy Comer was shot near South Carpenter Street and West 88th Street in Auburn Gresham about 10:50 p.m., authorities said.

Comer, 20, of the 7100 block of South Maplewood Avenue, was shot in the back and buttocks and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn early Saturday, authorities said. A 16-year-old boy was also wounded but survived.

On Thursday, prosecutors claim Shawanda Swain stabbed her boyfriend, 23-year-old Damani Chenier, during a domestic fight in her home the 5100 block of South Hyde Park Boulevard about 3:10 a.m.

Chenier, of the 10000 block of South Vernon Avenue, died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital about an hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office said.

Swain, 21, was charged Friday with first-degree murder and ordered held on $500,000 bond.

On Wednesday, 52-year-old Larry Lee was was shot in the 700 block of South Springfield Avenue in the West Garfield Park neighborhood about 10:30 p.m., authorities said. Witnesses told police they heard shots and saw the man lying on the ground, police said.

Lee, of the 3800 block of West Polk Street, died at Mount Sinai Hospital less than an hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Tuesday, 22-year-old Jackie Roberson was shot in the head while walking in the 10700 block of South Wentworth Avenue in Roseland about 12:10 p.m., authorities said.

Roberson, of the 10600 block of South Wentworth Avenue, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 2:39 p.m. Wednesday, according to the medical examiner's office.

On Tuesday, Daniel Brown allegedly fatally shot 42-year-old Daniel Jackson during a standoff with police in the 7200 block of South Lowe Avenue, authorities said.

Brown, 42, is also accused of shooting a Chicago Police captain during the standoff in the Englewood neighborhood and is being held without bond.

The killings started when 37-year-old Torrence Pickens was shot multiple times inside a vehicle in the 100 block of East 44th Street about 5:30 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Pickens, of the 3400 block of South King Drive, was dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Additionally, an unidentified teenager died last Monday from a gunshot to the head he suffered Oct. 4 in the 5400 block of South Talman Avenue, authorities said. Officers found the boy shot in the street and he remains unidentified.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 340 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including 12 people killed by police.

Chicago Police, which counts murders different by following federal guidelines, have ruled some of those homicides as involuntary manslaughter, justified self-defense or accidents.

UPDATE: Hyde Park woman held on $500,000 bond in stabing death of her boyfriend

Michael Lansu — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:56:20 -0500

Shawanda Swain / Photo from Chicago Police

BY TINA SFONDELES
Chicago Sun-Times

A Hyde Park woman was ordered held on $500,000 bond Saturday after prosecutors said she fatally stabbed her boyfriend during an early Thursday argument.

Prosecutors said Shawanda Swain, 21, was arguing with Damani Chenier inside Swain's apartment in the 5100 block of South Hyde Park Boulevard.

During the argument, Swain grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed Chenier once about 3:10 a.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Prosecutors said a neighbor called 911. Chenier, 23, of the 10000 block of South Vernon Avenue, died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital about an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

Swain was taken into custody after the attack and was charged Friday with first-degree murder, police said

Swain's attorney argued she was being physically and verbally abused by her boyfriend and acted in self-defense.

Swain, who is a home health care worker, has no criminal background.

On Saturday, Judge Donald Panarese Jr. ordered Swain held on $500,000 bond. She will be back in court Oct. 14.

Shawanda Swain charged with murder in Hyde Park stabbing death of Damani Chenier

Michael Lansu — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 18:11:29 -0500

Shawanda Swain / Photo from Chicago Police

Shawanda Swain has been charged with murder in early Thursday stabbing death of Damani Chenier in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

Chenier, 23, was stabbed in the chest during the fight inside a home in the 5100 block of South Hyde Park Boulevard about 3:10 a.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Chenier, of the 10000 block of South Vernon Avenue, died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital about an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

Swain, 21, who lived in the block where the stabbing happened, was taken into custody after the attack and was charged Friday with first-degree murder, police said.

She is expected to appear in bond court Saturday.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire