Vandetta Redwood | Homicide Watch Chicago

Woman beats charges again in connection with 2014 slaying of 14-year-old Endia Martin

Jeff Mayes — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 11:49:40 -0600

By JON SEIDEL
Chicago Sun-Times

Vandetta Redwood in the lobby of the Dirksen Federal Building after a jury found her not guilty for her alleged role in the death of Endia Martin. | Jon Seidel/Sun-Times

Nearly three years after 14-year-old Endia Martin became a symbol of Chicago’s gun violence, a woman at the center of the street brawl that led to the teen’s death walked out of a courtroom a free woman.

Again.

A federal jury handed a rare loss to federal prosecutors Thursday, acquitting 35-year-old Vandetta Redwood on charges that she gave a .38 special caliber revolver to Martin’s alleged killer, Redwood’s cousin, who was 14 at the time. The feds said Redwood gave her cousin instructions to “shoot that bitch.”

Jurors were not convinced. Redwood showed little reaction to the verdict when it was handed down in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve. But later, in the courthouse lobby, she broke down in tears.

“I want to tell the Martin family that I’m sorry for their loss,” Redwood said.

Endia Martin | photo provided

After pausing for a moment, Redwood added, “I’m sorry.”

Redwood was the second person to go on trial in connection with the April 2014 slaying, the result of a fight over a boy that began on social media and spilled into the 900 block of West Garfield.

But Redwood’s trial came to a bizarre end. Redwood interrupted closing arguments Wednesday, screaming that “they f—ing lied on me.” She attacked a key piece of evidence during her outburst — a cell phone video of the fight that preceded the shooting. She yelled, “they made that video up.”

Later, Redwood’s attorneys were accused of taking photos during the prosecutors’ closing arguments, and the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed Thursday that both were charged with a misdemeanor for doing so.

Also on Thursday, defense attorneys tried to introduce a last-minute witness, even after jury deliberations had begun. They claimed to have discovered a new video that shows someone else passed the gun to the accused shooter.

After the verdict was read, Redwood told reporters “I’m just tore up inside. I’m still stressed out.” But she declined to answer questions about whether she had given the gun to her cousin.

The prosecutors’ case hinged largely on the cellphone video, but the video itself does not convict Redwood. The feds conceded it did not show Redwood handing the gun to her cousin, arguing instead that “tell-tale signs” on the video would corroborate other witnesses’ testimony.

Cook County prosecutors tried to use that video against Redwood in the days after Martin’s death, charging her with mob action and obstruction of justice. Cook County Judge Donald Panarese Jr. quickly dismissed those charges in 2014, calling the cell phone video “choppy” and “poor.”

Donnell Flora | Chicago Police

Redwood wouldn’t be charged in federal court until February 2016. The charges landed days after Redwood’s other cousin, Donnell Flora, was convicted in Cook County court of the murder of Martin and the attempted murder of another girl, Lanekia Reynolds, who was also wounded.

Flora was accused of first handing the gun to the alleged shooter. The feds say the teen handed it to Redwood before then taking it back.

The alleged shooter, who is not being named because she was charged as a juvenile, is still awaiting trial.

Flora has been sentenced to 100 years in prison.

Teen accused of shooting Endia Martin in social media feud will get jury trial in juvenile court

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 14:46:48 -0500

By RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Endia Martin | photo provided

A Cook County Juvenile Court judge on Tuesday rejected a prosecutors’ motion to keep the teenage girl accused of murdering Endia Martin from having a jury trial.

Under the Juvenile Court Act, the girl, now 16, isn’t eligible to have a jury trial because she doesn’t have a history of being in trouble with the law, Assistant State’s Attorney Athena Farmakis argued.

Judge Stuart Katz, reading a written ruling, denied that request.

The girl’s trial is scheduled for May 16.

The accused shooter killed the 14-year-old Martin and wounded Martin's best friend, Lanekia Reynolds, on April 28, 2014, after a feud on social media over a boy, according to prosecutors.

Donnell Flora | Chicago Police

The girl’s uncle, 27-year-old Donnell Flora, was sentenced to 100 years in prison last month for his murder and attempted murder convictions tied to the deadly shooting.

Flora provided the weapon used in the crime in the 900 block of West Garfield.

Flora’s cousin, Vandetta Redwood, was likewise accused in federal court in February of helping to supply the loaded .38-caliber revolver.

Vandetta Redwood | Chicago Police

She was originally charged days after the shooting with mob action and obstruction of justice. But Cook County Judge Donald Panarese Jr. dismissed the case weeks later, calling cellphone video evidence supporting those charges “choppy” and “poor.”

During Flora’s trial, defense attorneys said it was Redwood who coaxed the minor, then 14, to pull the trigger by commanding her to “shoot the bitch.”

Judge sets tentative juvenile court trial date of May 16 for teenage girl accused of fatally shooting Endia Martin

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 13:15:58 -0600

By RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A Cook County Juvenile Court judge on Wednesday set a tentative May 16 trial date for the teenage girl accused of murdering Endia Martin.

Judge Stuart Katz had previously granted the defense’s motion for a jury trial. But prosecutors have filed a motion, asking him to reconsider his decision.

Katz is expected to give his ruling on the matter April 5, according to Cook County state’s attorney’s office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton.

The accused shooter, now 16, killed the 14-year-old Martin and wounded her best friend, Lanekia Reynolds, on April 28, 2014, following a feud on social media over a boy, according to prosecutors.

Endia Martin | photo provided

The girl’s uncle, 27-year-old Donnell Flora, was convicted in January of first-degree murder in Martin’s death, as well as the attempted murder of Reynolds for providing the weapon in the shooting in the 900 block of West Garfield.

Flora’s cousin, Vandetta Redwood, was likewise accused in a federal court last month of helping to supply the loaded .38-special revolver

Flora admitted during his trial that he gave his niece the gun before she confronted girls she had been trading barbs with on Facebook. But Flora said he told the girl to give the weapon to Redwood, and he saw her do so.

Flora’s attorney said it was Redwood who coaxed the minor, then 14, to pull the trigger by commanding her to “shoot the bitch.”

Aunt faces federal charge of giving gun to teenage niece charged with killing Endia Martin

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 14:00:28 -0600

By JON SEIDEL
Chicago Sun-Times

The aunt of the girl accused of fatally shooting Endia Martin has been indicted by a federal grand jury for her role in the 14-year-old’s 2014 murder.

Vandetta Redwood | Chicago Police

faces 10 years in federal prison if convicted after she was indicted for giving a loaded .38-caliber revolver to a minor. U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez ordered Redwood into custody Thursday after she pleaded not guilty at her arraignment, according to federal prosecutors.

Redwood invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to testify last month when she took the witness stand during the trial of her cousin, Donnell Flora. A jury found Flora guilty of first-degree murder in Martin’s death.

Endia Martin | photo provided

Cook County prosecutors accused him of providing the gun to his then-14-year-old niece, who used it to kill Martin in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on April 28, 2014.

Cook County prosecutors originally charged Redwood with mob action and obstruction of justice, but those charges were dismissed in May 2014.

Now she faces a federal indictment that contends Redwood knew her niece planned to use the gun in a murder, and she possessed it within 1,000 feet of Oliver Wendell Holmes Elementary School and Visitation Catholic School.

“Prosecuting federal weapons laws is a top priority of our office,” U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon said in a statement. “We will not hesitate to use every available federal tool to charge those responsible for furthering the cycle of violence in Chicago.”

Donnell Flora | Cook County sheriff's office