Tyrese Bell | Homicide Watch Chicago

Comment of the Day: "Laws are broken by criminals, and the punishment is a joke"

Michael Lansu — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 16:36:46 -0600

Tyrese Bell allegedly fatally shot 51-year-old cab driver Chinedu Madu during a Jan. 8 robbery in the North Lawndale neighborhood, prosecutors said. Bell was on probation for a previous conviction at the time of the killing. Reader "Juan" posted this about the killing:

I'm still trying to figure out why he was out of prison? The justice system is full of injustice. Laws are broken by criminals, and the punishment is a joke. My sincere condolences to the family and friends of this senseless act of violence.

UPDATE: Tyrese Bell fatally shot cabbie Chinedu Madu, stole camera that captured attack, prosecutors say

Michael Lansu — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 14:17:25 -0600

Tyrese Bell / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

A parolee admitted that he "f----- up" when he fatally shot a 51-year-old cab driver Thursday night in the North Lawndale community, prosecutors said.

Chicago Carriage Cab driver Chinedu Madu picked up Tyrese Bell and drove him to the 1200 block of South Albany Avenue, where Bell pulled out a handgun and shot Madu in the back of the head about 8:40 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Police initially described the attack as a robbery.

After being shot, Madu crashed into a parked vehicle and Bell got into the front seat, took the cab's camera and fled, said Assistant State's Attorney Enrique Abraham.

Madu, of the 500 block of East 33rd Place, was declared dead at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

A police camera captured Bell, 24, fleeing the cab and entering the gate of a nearby building, Abraham said.

Once inside the building, Bell put a .380 semi-automatic handgun next to a woman and asked her to keep the gun, Abraham said. Authorities did not identify the woman or her relationship to Bell.

The woman took the gun and the two walked to a bus stop, Abraham said. During the walk, Bell told the woman he "f----- up" and asked the woman to deny seeing him that day, prosecutors said.

Responding officers followed footprints in the snow from the cab to the building where Bell gave the woman the gun, according to Abraham, who said multiple witnesses identified Bell.

The woman allowed the officers to search the home and police recovered the gun, which was loaded with four 9 mm bullets and one .380 bullet, Abraham said. Two bullets recovered from Madu's body and two shell casings found in the cab matched that police recovered, prosecutors said.

Police arrested Bell and took him to Area Central, where he attacked three detectives, Abraham said.

Bell allegedly bit one detective on the right hand, another suffered a scratch to his left finger and a third suffered an undisclosed injury to the right hand, Abraham said. The alleged attack on the detectives was captured on video.

Bell, of the 1200 block of South Albany Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated battery to a peace officer, authorities said. The woman who took the gun has not been charged.

Bell is currently on parole for a 2014 conviction for possession of a controlled substance, according to court records. He was convinced for the same charge in 2010, 2012 and 2013. He was also convicted on separate charges of robbery and possession of a stolen vehicle in 2008.

Bell has been married for three years and has two children, according to his lawyer. He currently works at the Rock N Roll McDonald's and is attempting to obtain his G.E.D.

On Monday, Judge James Brown ordered Bell held without bond and issued a next court date of Jan. 30.

Scene where Chinedu Madu was shot / Video from NVP

After learning of Madu's death, Chicago Carriage Cab issued the following statement on Friday:

Edward Sheinin, COO of Chicago Carriage Cab, said today that the killing last night of one of Carriage’s drivers, Chinedu Lambert, 51, is a tragedy. We extend our prayers and condolences to his wife, Vivian and young son. Mr. Madu has been a driver with Chicago Carriage Cab for many years and had a reputation as an outstanding and conscientious driver. Along with his many friends here at Chicago Carriage Cab, we hope that whoever was responsible for his murder will be apprehended quickly. As the investigation continues, Chicago Carriage Cab will assist the Chicago Police Department in any way that it can. Again, our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends and they remain in our prayers.

The United Taxidrivers Community Council also issued a statement Friday focusing on the dangers of driving a cab.

“Perhaps this tragic event can lead to improvements in the security of cab drivers,” the statement said.

The United Taxidrivers Community Council said it is working with the city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection to address security concerns.

The group will be launching a fundraising campaign for Madu’s family, according to their statement.

The last cab driver killed on the job happened in March 2013 when 48-year-old Edwin Obazuaye was robbed then shot to death by two men he picked up in the 0 to 100 block of West 91st Street, authorities said.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Six killed throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 09:02:08 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Five men were fatally shot and a woman was stabbed to death last week in Chicago.

The most recent killing happened when 35-year-old Michael Harrison was shot while standing on a sidewalk in the 0-100 block of South Kostner Avenue in the West Garfield Park neighborhood about 10:40 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Harrison, 35, of the 2700 block of West Jackson Boulevard, was shot in the abdomen and died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County at 12:29 a.m., authorities said. A 31-year-old man was also wounded, police said.

On Thursday, 51-year-old Chicago Carriage Cab driver Chinedu Madu was shot in the chest during a robbery in the 1200 block of South Albany Avenue in the North Lawndale community about 8:45 p.m., authorities said.

Madu, of the 500 block of East 33rd Place, died at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Tyrese Bell, 24, of the 1200 block of South Albany Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a peace officer, police said.

On Tuesday, Joe Bennett, Corie Williams and a 14-year-old boy were shot while were standing in the 2200 block of East 79th Street in the South Shore neighborhood when a gunman walked up and opened fire about 3:20 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Bennett, 19, of the 8000 block of South Chappel Avenue, was shot in the head and dead at the scene, authorities said.

Williams, 18, of the 7900 block of South East End Avenue, was shot in the head and died at Christ Medical Center, authorities said.

The 14-year-old boy was shot in both legs and taken to Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center for treatment, according to police.

On Monday, 24-year-old Larry Edwards was sitting in a parked car in the 9300 block of South Burnside Avenue in Chatham when a group exited an alley and at least one person opened fire about 11:40 p.m., authorities said.

Edwards, of the 1300 block of West 109th Street, was struck by the gunfire and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn about an hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The killing started about 9:45 p.m. Monday when Andre Brown fatally stabbed his 54-year-old mother at their home in the 3500 block of West 77th Street about 9:45 p.m. Monday because she kept “putting him down and telling him that he needed to get a girlfriend,” prosecutors said.

The woman, Damita Collins, died at the scene in her Ashburn home, authorities said. was the site director of Trumbull Park Head Start Program, part of the Ada S. McKinley schools.

Brown is being held on $1 million bond.

Additionally, 20-year-old Marsalis Holman died Tuesday after prosecutors said his friend James Gonnigan accidentally shot him dead Sunday night in their home in the 1300 block of South Kolin Avenue in the North Lawndale neighborhood. Gonnigan, 25, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and ordered held on $100,000 bond.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least eight Chicago deaths in 2015 a homicide.

Tyrese Bell charged with murder in slaying of cab driver Chinedu Madu

Michael Lansu — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 13:23:06 -0600

Tyrese Bell / Photo from Chicago Police

A West Side man on probation for a drug conviction allegedly shot and killed a cab driver in the North Lawndale neighborhood Thursday night, authorities said.

Tyrese Bell, who turned 24 Sunday, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a peace officer, police said.

Bell is accused of shooting 51-year-old Chicago Carriage Cab driver Chinedu Madu in the chest during a robbery in the 1200 block of South Albany Avenue about 8:45 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Madu, of the 500 block of East 33rd Place, died at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Chicago Carriage Cab, which is based on the South Side, has more than 100 drivers, said dispatcher Stephanie Jackson.

“When I got in I saw a memo that we had a driver involved in a murder incident,” Jackson said. “It’s terrible.”

Chicago Carriage Cab issued the following statement on Friday:

Edward Sheinin, COO of Chicago Carriage Cab, said today that the killing last night of one of Carriage’s drivers, Chinedu Lambert, 51, is a tragedy. We extend our prayers and condolences to his wife, Vivian and young son. Mr. Madu has been a driver with Chicago Carriage Cab for many years and had a reputation as an outstanding and conscientious driver. Along with his many friends here at Chicago Carriage Cab, we hope that whoever was responsible for his murder will be apprehended quickly. As the investigation continues, Chicago Carriage Cab will assist the Chicago Police Department in any way that it can. Again, our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends and they remain in our prayers.

Scene where Chinedu Madu was shot / Video from NVP

The United Taxidrivers Community Council also issued a statement Friday focusing on the dangers of driving a cab.

“Perhaps this tragic event can lead to improvements in the security of cab drivers,” the statement said.

Bell, of the 1200 block of South Albany Avenue, is scheduled to appear in bond court Sunday.

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison in October 2014 for possession of a controlled substance, according to court records. He was credited with 280 days of time served at Cook County Jail and was ordered mandatory supervision for a year.

He was convicted of the same drug charge in 2010, 2011 and 2012, according to court records. In 2008, he was sentenced to four years in prison for robbery.

The United Taxidrivers Community Council said it is working with the city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection to address security concerns.

The group will be launching a fundraising campaign for Madu’s family, according to their statement.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire