Barnett Adams | Homicide Watch Chicago

UPDATE: James Wilson fatally shot unarmed Barnett Adams during Austin street fight, prosecutors say

Will Hager — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 16:15:08 -0600

James Wilson / Photo from Chicago Police

BY WILL HAGER
Homicide Watch Chicago

A Forest Park man was ordered held without bond Thursday for allegedly fatally shooting Barnett Adams during an Austin neighborhood street fight last month.

James Wilson, 30, allegedly shot Adams outside a store in the 5600 block of West Chicago Avenue about 5:10 p.m. Dec. 19, authorities said.

Assistant State’s Attorney Allison Sise said Wilson drove up in an Infiniti and went inside a store to confront Adams about drugs allegedly taken by a relative of Adams.

The argument escalated to a fight outside the store and both men attempted to land punches, Sise said. Adams eventually punched Wilson to the ground.

When Wilson got up, he allegedly shot an unarmed Adams multiple times, Sise said.

Adams, 33, of the 600 block of North Waller Avenue, died about an hour later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office, which ruled the death a homicide.

Barnett Adams / Submitted Photo

Three witnesses identified Wilson as the shooter in a photo lineup, Sise said.

Wilson was arrested in the Champaign-Urbana area after a court hearing for an unrelated obstruction of justice case, authorities said. Wilson, of the 7400 block of Washington Street in Forest Park, was charged with first-degree murder in Adams’ death.

Wilson appeared before Judge Adam Bourgeois in a white T-shirt and blue jeans. His attorney, Sam Adam Jr., argued Adams threw the first punch.

Adam, the lead attorney for former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in his first corruption trial, said Wilson has lived in the Chicago area his whole life, has two children and worked at Unity Transportation.

He further argued that Wilson is not a flight risk, and noted that he went downstate for a court hearing and not to flee. Bourgeois was not swayed by the defense and ordered Wilson held without bond.

“Your client has a propensity toward violence,” Bourgeois said.

Wilson has a 2001 conviction for aggravated battery and armed robbery, Sise said. He was sentenced to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

He will be back in court Feb. 18.

James Wilson charged with murder in shooting death of Barnett Adams

Michael Lansu — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 21:40:35 -0600

James Wilson / Photo from Chicago Police

A west suburban man has been charged with murder for allegedly shooting Barnett Adams to death last month during an argument in the Austin community.

The police Fugitive Apprehension Unit arrested James Wilson, 30, in Urbana and he was charged with one count of first-degree murder, police said.

Wilson is accused of fatally shooting Adams during a Dec. 19 argument in the 5600 block of West Chicago Avenue, authorities said.

Barnett Adams / Submitted Photo

The men were arguing in the street when Wilson allegedly pulled out a gun and shot multiple times about 5:10 p.m., authorities said. Wilson fled after the shooting.

Adams, 33, of the 600 block of North Waller Avenue, died about an hour later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Wilson, of the 7400 block of Washington Street in Forest Park, is expected to appear for a bond hearing Thursday at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in the 2600 block of South California Avenue.

-- Homicide Watch Chicago

WEEK IN REVIEW: 10 men killed in citywide shootings

Michael Lansu — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 08:59:39 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Ten men were shot to death throughout the city last week.

The most recent murder happened when 18-year-old Leroy Griffin was fatally shot in the 7900 block of South Lafayette Avenue about 7 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Several people got out of an SUV and opened fire on Griffin -- striking him in the head, authorities said. Detectives are investigating if the shooting was gang related, police said.

Griffin, of the 7500 block of South Langley Avenue, died about 20 minutes later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

In the Belmont Crain neighborhood, Luciano Torres was in an SUV in the 4800 block of West Deming Place when a gunman in another SUV shot him in the head about 4:30 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Torres, 28, of the 2300 block of North Newland Avenue, died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center about 12 hours later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Friday, Jeffrey Anderson was shot to death outside his Northwest Side home in the 2800 block of North Talman Street, authorities said.

Anderson, 28, was standing outside his home when two males approached on foot and shot him in the shoulder about 9:50 p.m., authorities said. Anderson went inside his home, collapsed and was dead at the scene.

On Thursday, Barnett Adams was shot to death during an argument in the 5600 block of West Chicago Avenue.

Adams, 33, was arguing with another man in the street when the man pulled out a gun and shot Adams in the shoulder and leg about 5:10 p.m., authorities said.

Adams, of the 600 block of North Waller Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital about an hour later, according to the medical examiner's office.

In the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood, 19-year-old Andre Hunter was shot multiple times and found on a sidewalk in the 7700 block of South Stewart Avenue about 2:40 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Hunter, of the 7900 block of South Princeton Avenue, died about an hour later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the medical examiner’s office.

In the South Shore community, 74-year-old Willie Cooper was found shot multiple times in a vehicle in the 7000 block of South East End Avenue about 4:45 a.m. Thursday, authorities said.

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

About an hour later, Chicago blues musician Eric "Guitar" Davis was shot dead inside a vehicle three blocks north in the 6700 block of South East End Avenue, authorities said.

Davis, 41, of the 14200 block of South Eggleston Avenue in Riverdale, was pronounced dead at the scene, the medical examiner’s office said.

Chicago blues legend Linsey Alexander said Davis was hanging out at North Side blues bar Kingston Mines Wednesday night.

In the Gage Park neighborhood, 27-year-old Salvador Diaz had just exited a vehicle in the 5300 block of South Talman Avenue when a gunman walked up and shot him about 2:50 a.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Diaz tried to run away, but eventually collapsed in a nearby alley, authorities said. Emergency crews found Diaz, of the 500 block of South Spaulding Avenue, in an alley and later he died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, authorities said.

The five homicides on Thursday were the most in a single day since Oct. 9.

On Tuesday, 16-year-old Christopher Ramirez was shot in the 2600 block of South Trumbull Avenue about 10:30 p.m., authorities said.

Ramirez was walking when a male exited the passenger side of a van and shot in the head, authorities said.

Ramirez, of the 2800 block of South Trumbull Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital at 8:39 p.m. Wednesday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Monday, 17-year-old Ladarius Brisco was found shot in the head in the 8200 block of South Champlain Avenue about 1 p.m., authorities said.

Brisco, of the 8200 block of South Vernon Avenue, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County Wednesday afternoon, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Barnett Adams fatally shot during Austin neighborhood argument

Michael Lansu — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 07:41:20 -0600

Barnett Adams fatally shot during a Thursday afternoon argument in the Austin neighborhood.

Adams, 33, was arguing with another man in the street in the 5600 block of West Chicago Adams when the other man pulled out a gun and shot him about 5:10 p.m., authorities said.

Adams, of the 600 block of North Waller Avenue, was shot in the shoulder and leg and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died at 6:03 p.m., authorities said.

The gunman fled after the shooting, police said.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire