Arshell Dennis III | Homicide Watch Chicagohttp://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/arshell-dennis-iii/Latest news about Arshell Dennis IIIen-usMon, 08 May 2017 11:28:23 -0500Prosecutor: Fatal shooting of cop's son Arshell Dennis III last year was case of mistaken identity by gang membershttp://homicides.suntimes.com/2017/05/08/prosecutor-fatal-shooting-of-cops-son-arshell-dennis-iii-last-year-was-case-of-mistaken-identity-by-gang-members/<p>By FRNAK MAIN, ANDY GRIMM AND MATTHEW HENDRICKSON<br /> Chicago Sun-Times<br /> <img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2017/05/moore-238x300-238x300.jpg" alt="Anthony M. Moore | Chicago Police" width="238" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-25706" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Anthony M. Moore | Chicago Police</p><br /> A Cook County judge on Saturday denied bail for a teen accused of fatally shooting <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/arshell-dennis-iii/">Arshell Dennis III</a>, the son of a Chicago Police sergeant last summer, just before he was to return to college.</p> <p><a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/suspects/anthony-m-moore/">Anthony M. Moore</a>, 18, of the 7900 block of South Sawyer, appeared before Judge Donald Panarese, charged with first-degree murder in the death of Dennis, a journalism major at St. John’s University in New York. His father, Sgt. Arshell Dennis, once served with CPD Supt. Eddie Johnson as a patrol officer in the Gresham District.</p> <p>The younger Dennis, known as “Trey,” was entering his junior year at St. John’s and was home visiting his family prior to the new school year when he was shot and killed last summer.</p> <p>The 19-year-old was shot to death and a friend wounded while they sat on the porch of his parents’ South Side home on Aug. 14.</p> <p>Moore is also charged with attempted murder in the shooting of Dennis’ 20-year-old friend, who was hit in the arm and chest.<br /> <span id="more-25702"></span><br /> <img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2017/05/copson-220x300.jpg" alt="Arshell Dennis III | photo provided" width="220" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-25707" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Arshell Dennis III | photo provided</p></p> <p>Authorities said the shooting was a case of mistaken identity, and said Moore believed Dennis and his friends were members of the Quiet Money faction of the Gangster Disciples. None of the victims were involved in gangs, according to prosecutors and detectives.</p> <p>About midnight, Moore and fellow gang members in the M.O.B. faction of the Gangster Disciples drove in two vehicles up to the Dennis family home in Wrightwood, assistant state’s attorney John Maher said. </p> <p>The two vehicles pulled into an alley behind the home and sent an unknown gang member to scout Dennis and his friends on the porch, Maher said. That gang member then rejoined the group.</p> <p>Moore and another M.O.B. faction member, who has not been charged, got out of their vehicle and walked from the alley through a gangway about two houses east of where Dennis and his friends were standing, Maher said.</p> <p>Moore began firing a .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun; Dennis was struck in the armpit and fell immediately, Maher said. After a second shooter opened fire, Dennis’ friend also was struck. The shooters returned to their vehicles and drove off together.</p> <p>A classmate at St. John's posted this video of Dennis on YouTube.</p> <p><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='500' height='312' src='http://www.youtube.com/embed/0RUv6By9KCk?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe></span></p> <p>Authorities said Moore made statements to other people admitting his role in the killing; they said he said he shot first and bragged that he had killed an opposing gang member. Police said they were able to track the stolen vehicles with surveillance videos. The videos and “phone-data evidence” helped link Moore to the crime, police said.</p> <p>Moore was already being held in the Cook County Jail, charged with possession of a stolen vehicle for swiping a Toyota Camry in southwest suburban Justice. On Jan. 6, Moore was charged with violating electronic monitoring the month before, according to court documents. He has been arrested six times since turning 18 in November, police said.</p> <p>He also was arrested 11 times as a juvenile, starting in 2014. Those cases included robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a source said.</p> <p>Moore’s attorney said his client was invoking his Fifth Amendment right not to discuss the case. He was the oldest child of five, who lives with his aunt in Chicago and often visits his mother in Gary, Indiana, on the weekends. At one point, he had hoped to go to trade school to become an electrician or plumber.</p> <p>Maher called Moore “a threat to the community” and asked Judge Panarese to deny bond. He said prosecutors believe Moore could face a life sentence.</p> <p>Members of Dennis’ family and supporters declined to comment after leaving the hearing on Saturday.</p> <p>Maher said the case was still being investigated, and more charges could be brought.</p> <p><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='500' height='312' src='http://www.youtube.com/embed/J6ATuSI-zA8?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe></span></p> Jeff MayesMon, 08 May 2017 11:28:23 -0500http://homicides.suntimes.com/2017/05/08/prosecutor-fatal-shooting-of-cops-son-arshell-dennis-iii-last-year-was-case-of-mistaken-identity-by-gang-members/Arshell Dennis IIIAnthony M. MooreWEEK IN REVIEW: At least 28 dead, including U.S. Army veteran and police officer's son, in deadliest week of 2016http://homicides.suntimes.com/2016/08/16/week-in-review-dead-from-violence-in-chicago-2/<p>By JEFF MAYES<br /> Chicago Sun-Times Wire<br /> <img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/07/CASING-300x194.jpg" alt="Sun-Times file photo" width="300" height="194" class="size-medium wp-image-19431" srcset="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/07/CASING-300x194.jpg 300w, http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/07/CASING-768x497.jpg 768w, http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/07/CASING-500x323.jpg 500w, http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/07/CASING-800x517.jpg 800w, http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/07/CASING.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Sun-Times file photo</p><br /> It started with the single deadliest day in Chicago in 13 years, and ended with a tragic weekend in which the victims included a U.S. Army veteran and the son of a Chicago Police officer. </p> <p>By the time it was over, at least 28 people were killed in Chicago violence last week.</p> <p>The week got off to a violent start with nine people shot to death on Monday, the single highest death toll in the city for one day since July 5, 2003. </p> <p>And with at least nine more people shot over a weekend that saw more than 60 people shot, it ended up the bloodiest week in Chicago this year, bringing the 2016 homicide total to at least 440.</p> <ul> <li>The son of a Chicago Police officer was killed and another man wounded in a shooting early Sunday in the Wrightwood neighborhood. <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/arshell-dennis-iii/">Arshell Dennis III</a>, 19, was a journalism student at St. John's University in New York City who was home for his mother's birthday and planning to return to school on Sunday.<br /> <span id="more-19842"></span></p> <p>But early Saturday, Dennis and a 20-year-old man were sitting outside the Dennis home in the 2900 block of West 82nd Street a few minutes after midnight. A male approached and started shooting, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.</p> <p>Dennis, the son of Officer Arshell (Chico) Dennis Jr., was shot in the chest and pronounced dead at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, authorities said. The 20-year-old was shot in the arm and chest, and was taken to Christ Medical Center in serious condition.</li> <li>A 23-year-old U.S. Army veteran man was shot to death in the West Elsdon neighborhood early Saturday. <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/abner-b-garcia/">Abner Garcia</a> was driving south in the 5200 block of South Pulaski about 1:40 a.m. when a van pulled alongside and someone inside flashed gang signs, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. <p>The two began arguing until someone in the van opened a door and shot Garcia in the head, authorities said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died four hours later.</li> <li>The week's final homicide was a man found shot to death Sunday morning in the Park Manor neighborhood. Officers responding to a call of a person down about 9:05 a.m. in the 6700 block of South Wabash found 21-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/anthony-nelson/">Anthony Nelson</a> with multiple gunshot wounds, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene.</li> <li>In the last of several fatal shootings in Austin last week, a 24-year-old man was shot to death early Sunday. Officers responding at 5:11 a.m. to a call of a person down in the 5200 block of West Ferdinand found <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/ladrell-brown/">Ladrell Brown</a> lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the chest, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. He was pronounced dead at the scene.</li> <li>A man was fatally shot Sunday morning on the Near West Side. <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/alfonso-r-kyles/">Alfonso R. Kyles</a>, 31, was found on the sidewalk about 3 a.m. just south of the entrance to Touhy-Herbert Park in the 2100 block of West Adams Street, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. <p>The shooting occurred half a block west of Chicago Bulls College Prep. Kyles suffered a gunshot wound to the head, and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.</li> <li>A second man was shot to death early Sunday in Austin. <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/antoine-johnson/">Antoine Johnson</a>, 31, was shot in the back at 2:18 a.m. in the 5000 block of West Van Buren, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died.</li> <li>A 27-year-old man was killed and a 10-year-old boy wounded in a Saturday afternoon shooting in East Garfield Park. Just after 1 p.m., <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/yanong-woods/">Yanong Woods</a> was standing outside in the 3800 block of West Madison when a gunman walked up and shot him in the chest, knee and thigh, according to authorities. <p>He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he later died. A 10-year-old boy was grazed in the shooting and was taken to Stroger in good condition, according to the Chicago Fire Department.</li> <li>Two people were shot, one fatally, in the Humboldt Park neighborhood Friday night. About 11:35 p.m., a 30-year-old man and 26-year-old woman were driving east in the 3300 block of West North Avenue. While they were stopped at a red light, another car pulled up next to them and a suspect shot them, according to police. <p><a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/louis-carrasquillo/">Louis Carrasquillo</a> was shot in the head, and the woman in the left leg, according to authorities. Both were taken to Stroger Hospital, where Carrasquillo died at 12:02 a.m. Saturday. The woman’s condition was stabilized, police said.</li> <li>In the weekend's first fatal shooting, a 17-year-old boy from the south suburbs was killed in Englewood on Friday night. <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/johnathan-l-stewart/">Johnathan L. Stewart </a>was shot in the chest and right leg about 10:15 p.m. in the 700 block of West 66th Place, according to authorities. <p>Stewart, of Country Club Hills, was taken to St. Bernard Hospital, where he was pronounced dead 15 minutes later, according to the medical examiner’s office.</li> <li>A man was killed and another wounded in a shooting in the West Englewood neighborhood late Thursday. <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/johnny-j-butler/">Johnny J. Butler</a>, 37, was found shot in the head shortly before midnight in a vacant lot in the 6500 block of South Ashland, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. <p>Butler was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man, 29, was shot in the right leg and was taken to Holy Cross Hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg, police said.</li> <li>A 22-year-old man was killed and his 6-year-old girl wounded in a shooting Thursday afternoon in Park Manor. They were outside near <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/david-mccray/">David McCray</a>’s home in the 6800 block of South Calumet taking part in a water balloon fight when someone walked up and started shooting around 2:30 p.m., according to police and the medical examiner’s office. <p>McCray was shot in the chest and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died minutes later. The girl suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the head, and was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital. She underwent surgery on Friday to remove the bullet and was expected to make a full recovery.</li> <li>A man was killed and two other people wounded in a shooting early Thursday in Gresham. Just before 2 a.m., the three were inside a vehicle in the 8000 block of South Marshfield when someone walked up at a stop sign and opened fire, according to police. The shooter then ran away. <p><a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/winston-delaney/">Winston Delaney</a>, 50, was shot in the back and forearm, and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died at 2:42 a.m., according to the medical examiner’s office. </p> <p>A 33-year-old man was shot in the right forearm, and a 59-year-old woman in the hip and back. They were both taken to Stroger Hospital, where their conditions were stabilized, police said.</li> <li>A man died Wednesday night, one day after he was shot in the Austin neighborhood. <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/dontae-roberts/">Dontae Roberts</a>, 30, was was sitting in a parked vehicle at 10:56 p.m. Tuesday in the 5900 block of West Division when someone exited a vehicle nearby and opened fire, according to authorities. <p>Roberts was shot in the head, and was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where he was pronounced dead at 8:37 p.m. Wednesday.</li> <li>A man was fatally shot Wednesday night in the West Pullman neighborhood. Police responding to reports of shots fired at 10:20 p.m. found the 22-year-old lying on a parkway in the 12400 block of South Lowe with a gunshot wound to the head. <p><a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/stephan-triplett/">Stephan Triplett</a> was taken to Roseland Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.</li> <li>A woman was shot to death late Wednesday on the Near West Side. About 10 p.m., 22-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/jamie-williams/">Jamie Williams</a> was riding in a vehicle in the 200 block of South Oakley when a black four-door Hyundai pulled up alongside, authorities said. A male passenger got out and shot her multiple times in the chest before he ran away and the Hyundai sped off. Williams was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.</li> <li>A man was shot to death Tuesday night in the Rogers Park neighborhood. <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/cortez-tate/">Cortez Tate</a>, 25, was shot in the head at 8:27 p.m. in the 7300 block of North Rogers, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Tate was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he was died about three hours later.</li> <li>A man was shot to death Tuesday night in the Roseland neighborhood. About 8:10 p.m., 32-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/demarco-v-kennedy/">Demarco V. Kennedy</a> was eating dinner in his second-floor apartment in the 600 block of East 102nd Place when he was shot in the neck, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Kennedy was taken to Trinity Hospital, where he died two hours later, authorities said.</li> <li>A man died after he was shot Tuesday afternoon in the Englewood neighborhood. <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/julius-coleman/">Julius Coleman</a>, 18, was on the street after getting dropped off from a vehicle at 2:07 p.m. in the 5600 block of South May when someone inside a passing blue vehicle began shooting, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Coleman was shot in the chest and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.</li> <li>A North Lawndale man died five days after he was hit with a baseball bat and punched in a fight in the Austin neighborhood. <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/andre-jackson/">Andre Jackson</a>, 23, was pronounced dead at 5:51 a.m. Tuesday at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office. An autopsy Wednesday found he died of complications from multiple blunt force injuries. <p>Police were called to a report of a battery at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, in the 4800 block of Quincy. Jackson and a 20-year-old man were driving near Gladys and Kolmar when another vehicle blocked their path. Three people got out of the vehicle and started an argument.</p> <p>They beat Jackson and the 20-year-old with baseball bats and their fists, police said. Jackson and the other man fled to the 4800 block of West Quincy Street, where they were picked up by paramedics. The 20-year-old was treated for minor injuries.</li> <li>A man was killed and two others were critically wounded in a Roseland shooting late Monday. The three were standing on the sidewalk at 11:17 p.m. in the 9400 block of South LaSalle when a blue car drove past and someone inside opened fire, according to police. <p><a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/anthony-hatchett/">Anthony Hatchett</a>, 44, was shot in the head, and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later. </p> <p>A 28-year-old man who was shot in the back was also taken to Christ, police said. The third man, 30, was taken to Stroger Hospital with gunshot wounds to the right arm and left leg. Both were listed in critical condition.</li> <li>A man was killed in a West Englewood neighborhood shooting Monday night. E<a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/erik-l-williams/">rik L. Williams</a>, 27, was standing on a front porch at 10:18 p.m. in the 1800 block of West 58th when someone in a gray sedan fired shots at him, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. <p>Williams suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the side of his torso and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.</li> <li>A man was shot to death Monday night in the Homan Square neighborhood. <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/john-hosey-jr/">John Hosey Jr.</a>, 28, was driving at 9:24 p.m. in the 3500 block of West Grenshaw when he heard gunfire and felt pain, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Hosey suffered gunshot wounds to the left arm, torso and back and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.</li> <li>A man was killed and a teenage boy wounded in a shooting Monday night in West Garfield Park. <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/cory-hughes/">Cory Hughes</a>, 28, was standing on the sidewalk in the 100 block of South Kilpatrick about 8:45 p.m. when a male walked up and started shooting, according to police and the medical examiner's office. <p>Hughes was shot multiple times, and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A 17-year-old boy who was driving past the scene was struck in the left ankle, police said. He drove himself to Loretto Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.</li> <li>A 24-year-old man was shot to death Monday night in the Ashburn neighborhood. <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/denzell-mickiel/">Denzell Mickiel</a> was shot in the right arm, left side of the neck, and head about 7:30 p.m. in the 3200 block of West 83rd Street, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.</li> <li>A 22-year-old man was fatally shot in West Garfield Park on Monday night. <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/ireal-c-mitchell/">Ireal C. Mitchell</a> was in the 800 block of South Springfield at 7:22 p.m. when someone in a gray vehicle shot him multiple times, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. <p>Mitchell was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy found he died of gunshot wounds to the torso and right upper arm.</li> <li>A 61-year-old man was shot to death Monday afternoon while sitting on his porch in Chatham. At 1:18 p.m., <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/michael-lucas/">Michael Lucas</a> was on his front porch in the 9100 block of South Cottage Grove when someone fired shots in his direction, authorities said. Lucas was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said he was not the intended target.</li> <li>A 25-year-old man was killed while driving in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood early Monday. <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/william-villa/">William Villa</a> was driving a black SUV in the 1100 block of North Western Avenue at 2:27 a.m. when he stopped at a red light at Western and Division, according to police and the medical examiner's office. A dark-colored car pulled alongside his vehicle and someone inside opened fire. <p>The SUV then pulled forward and crashed into a traffic light in the northeast corner of the intersection. Villa was shot in the head, but three female passengers in the SUV were not injured. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died about half an hour later, according to the medical examiner's office.</li> <li>A man was shot to death early Monday in East Garfield Park. Officers responding about 2:25 a.m. to a call of a person shot in the 3200 block of West Walnut found the man lying on the sidewalk, according to police. <p><a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/lee-martin/">Lee Martin</a>, 43, had suffered gunshot wounds to the head and back, and was pronounced dead at the scene.</li> </ul> Jeff MayesTue, 16 Aug 2016 16:00:35 -0500http://homicides.suntimes.com/2016/08/16/week-in-review-dead-from-violence-in-chicago-2/Ladrell BrownJohnny J. ButlerLouis CarrasquilloJulius Maurice ColemanWinston DelaneyArshell Dennis IIIAnthony HatchettJohn Hosey Jr.Cory HughesAndre JacksonAntoine JohnsonDemarco V. KennedyAlfonso R. KylesMichael LucasLee MartinDavid McCrayDenzell MickielIreal C. MitchellAnthony NelsonDontae RobertsJohnathan L. StewartCortez TateStephan TriplettWilliam VillaErik L. WilliamsJamie WilliamsYanong WoodsArshell Dennis III, police officer's son and journalism student, shot to death in front of family home in Wrightwoodhttp://homicides.suntimes.com/2016/08/14/arshell-dennis-iii-police-officers-son-and-journalism-student-shot-to-death-in-front-of-family-home-in-wrightwood/<p><iframe src="http://homicides.suntimes.com/api/v1/homicides/1811.html" width="100%" height="350" frameborder=0></iframe></p> <p>By JORDAN OWEN<br /> Chicago Sun-Times Wire<br /> <img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/08/wrightwood-300x160.png" alt="Police investigate a shooting in the 2900 block of West 82nd Street Sunday morning which killed the son of a Chicago Police officer. | NVP News" width="300" height="160" class="size-medium wp-image-20080" srcset="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/08/wrightwood-300x160.png 300w, http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/08/wrightwood-500x267.png 500w, http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/08/wrightwood.png 670w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Police investigate a shooting in the 2900 block of West 82nd Street Sunday morning which killed the son of a Chicago Police officer. | NVP News</p><br /> <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/arshell-dennis-iii/">Arshell Dennis III</a>, the son of a Chicago Police officer and an aspiring journalist, was shot and killed outside his home in the Wrightwood neighborhood early Sunday in an attack that also left another man. </p> <p>Dennis, 19, was sitting outside the family home in the 2900 block of West 82nd Street with a 20-year-old man a few minutes after midnight when a male approached and started shooting, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.</p> <p>Dennis, the son of Officer Arshell (Chico) Dennis Jr., was shot in the chest and was pronounced dead at Little Company of Mary Hospital at 12:45 a.m., authorities said. He lived on the same block where the shooting happened. </p> <p>The 20-year-old was shot in the arm and chest and taken to Christ Medical Center in serious condition, police said.<br /> <span id="more-20076"></span><br /> <img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/08/10959359_1033086303373610_2463996983479090545_n-220x300.jpg" alt="Arshell &#039;Trey&#039; Dennis III | Facebook" width="220" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-20081" srcset="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/08/10959359_1033086303373610_2463996983479090545_n-220x300.jpg 220w, http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/08/10959359_1033086303373610_2463996983479090545_n-500x682.jpg 500w, http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/08/10959359_1033086303373610_2463996983479090545_n-587x800.jpg 587w, http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2016/08/10959359_1033086303373610_2463996983479090545_n.jpg 704w" sizes="(max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Arshell 'Trey' Dennis III | Facebook</p></p> <p>Known as "Trey," Arshell Dennis III was entering his junior year as a journalism major at St. John's University in New York City, and was home visiting family prior to the start of the new school year.</p> <p>“Our family is deeply saddened this by tragic and senseless shooting,” a statement from the Dennis family said.</p> <p>“The loss of our son is stunning and painful. Trey was a junior in college at Saint John University, majoring in Journalism. Tragically, we were going to take him to airport today at 3 p.m. to return to school. Now because of this senseless violence, we will be grieving and planning his funeral. Trey was smart, funny, and the light of our lives. We ask for privacy at this time as we collect ourselves and deal with this stunning loss,” the family said.</p> <p>A classmate at St. John's posted this video of Dennis on YouTube.</p> <p><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='500' height='312' src='http://www.youtube.com/embed/0RUv6By9KCk?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe></span></p> <p>Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson spoke to Officer Dennis on Sunday morning and said he is at a loss for words at the amount of grief the officer and his family are dealing with, according to a statement from police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. Johnson and Dennis were longtime friends who served together as patrol officers in the 6th District.</p> <p>“Officer Dennis dedicated his life to make this city safer, and his son Arshell was a good kid, making his parents proud and studying for a promising future as a journalist,” Supt. Johnson said in the statement.</p> <p>“As always, the men and women of the CPD will stop at nothing to find who was responsible and bring a sense of closure and justice to Officer Dennis and all of families affected by violence,” Johnson said.</p> <p>“But in order to address the root of this violence, we must change the way the criminal justice system treats the reckless, repeat gun offenders who are causing this violence and send a clear message that when you are involved in gun crimes you will be held accountable."</p> <p>Pat Williams, a neighbor who lives three doors away from the family, said she was home around midnight when she heard six shots come from the gangway next to her house. By the time she went outside to see what happened, she said there were about 25 police officers who, after asking what she heard, found five bullet casings between her front yard, her neighbor’s front yard and the gangway between their houses.</p> <p>“I left the Bronzeville neighborhood to come over here for a peaceful, less-congested kind of neighborhood, so it doesn’t feel very good to see this,” she said.</p> <p>Brenda, a neighbor who asked to be identified by only her first name, said she was in her living room when she heard several shots outside. She thought they were coming from her porch, so she crawled to the back of the house. After about five minutes of silence, she looked outside and realized the shooting happened across the street.</p> <p>“I think it was the mother, and she was crying so hard I went to the back of the house to not hear it,” she said.</p> <p>“He was a promising child,” she said of Arshell. “He was going somewhere—handsome, intelligent and somebody must have mistaken his identity.”</p> <p>Terri Bachstrom, who lives on the same block as the Dennis family, said she knew Arshell from working as a Chicago Public Schools lunchroom attendant. She said he was a quiet, well-mannered and great kid.</p> <p>“He wasn’t in a gang. He wasn’t affiliated with any of the nonsense that’s going on in Chicago,” Bachstrom said. “He wasn’t one of those kids. He was just a different child all around the board, so I don’t understand why somebody would come in and shoot like that.”</p> <p>Cesar Pantoja, who lives down the street from where the shooting happened, said he was leaving to meet his sister about five minutes before the shooting happened. He said he saw Arshell and his friend sitting in front of their home hanging out as he left the neighborhood.</p> <p>“Everything was OK and they seemed to be having a good time,” Pantoja said. “I can’t get over that I saw them just before, and he was alive and having a good time, then five minutes later this happens.”</p> <p>Pantoja said violence is not common in the neighborhood. A party was going on nearby Saturday night, Pantoja said, so he suspects the party could have attracted the shooters into the neighborhood.</p> <p>“I’ve been here for 40 years and it’s been a very pleasant neighborhood, but sometimes when there are block parties we do have problems like break-ins and other people,” he said. “The parties sometimes bring in outside elements to our neighborhood. I’m willing to bet [the shooting] has nothing to do with any of us here.”</p> Jeff MayesSun, 14 Aug 2016 12:58:51 -0500http://homicides.suntimes.com/2016/08/14/arshell-dennis-iii-police-officers-son-and-journalism-student-shot-to-death-in-front-of-family-home-in-wrightwood/Arshell Dennis III