WEEK IN REVIEW: Seven shot dead throughout city

Michael Lansu — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 09:15:54 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Seven people were shot to death throughout the city last week.

Four of the seven murders happened since Friday afternoon during a bloody weekend that saw 33 other people wounded by gunfire.

The most recent murder happened in the Washington Park neighborhood when Corey Brownlee was fatally shot behind his home in the 6000 block of South Indiana Avenue about 2:40 a.m. Sunday, authorities said. A 27-year-old woman was also wounded in the shooting but survived.

Brownlee, 32, was shot in the chest and died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County less than an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

In the Gage Park neighborhood, 20-year-old Joshua Martinez was shot in the head and back in the 3000 block of West 53rd Place about 1 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Martinez, of the 4900 block of South Karlov Avenue, was dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder in Martinez' death and is expected to appear for a bond hearing later Monday.

On Friday, 34-year-old Shannon Mack was found shot to death in the 2700 block of East 76th Street about 9:30 p.m., authorities said.

Mack, of the 6800 block of South Crandon Avenue, was dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

In the Woodlawn neighborhood, 17-year-old Gakirah Barnes was fatally shot about 3:30 p.m. Friday in the 6400 block of South Eberhart Avenue, authorities said. Two other people were wounded in the shooting, police said.

Gakirah, 17, was shot in the upper body and died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, about two hours later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Residents of a home on the block were in shock over the murder. They said the girl was shot while walking on the street then collapsed onto the porch of the home, bleeding from the neck and chest.

On Wednesday, rapper Big Glo -- cousin to fellow musician Chief Keef -- was fatally shot about 9:30 p.m. in the 5600 block of South Elizabeth Street, authorities said.

Big Glo, whose real name was Mario Hess, 30, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County about an hour later, according to the medical examiner's office.

Big Glo -- who also performed under the name Blood Money -- had just recently signed with Interscope Records, said his manager, Renaldo Reuben Hess, who was also his client’s cousin.

In the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, 17-year-old Adrian Soto was killed when a gunman approached from a gangway in the 6300 block of South Mozart Street and shot him in the head about 6:20 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Soto, of the 6200 block of South Francisco Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital at 1:59 a.m. Friday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The killings started about 7:20 p.m. Monday when Darnall Gordon was fatally shot in a convenience store in the 1600 block of West Howard Street, authorities said. Two other men were wounded in the shooting but survived.

Authorities said somebody opened fire from across the street and Gordon was shot in the chest. Gordon, 36, of the 6300 block of North Sacramento Avenue, died about an hour later at Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, according to the medical examiner's office.

Adrian Soto, 17, shot dead on Chicago Lawn sidewalk

Michael Lansu — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 21:21:42 -0500

Adrian Soto has died after being shot in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood Wednesday night.

Soto, 17, was standing on a sidewalk in the 6300 block of South Mozart Street awhen approached from a gangway and shot him in the head about 6:20 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

The shooter drove off in a black vehicle, police said.

Soto, of the 6200 block of South Francisco Avenue, was initially taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died at 1:59 a.m. Friday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Nobody has been charged in the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating if the shooting is gang related.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Adrian Soto | Homicide Watch Chicago

WEEK IN REVIEW: Seven shot dead throughout city

Adrian Soto, 17, shot dead on Chicago Lawn sidewalk