Carnesha Fort | Homicide Watch Chicago

Man sentenced to 60 years for fatal shooting of Carnesha Fort, his roommate, during argument over money in 2014

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 16:20:47 -0600

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times

Erick Sanders | Illinois Dept. of Corrections

A man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for fatally shooting his roommate—mother of four Carnesha Fort—at their West Garfield Park neighborhood home in 2014.

Erick Sanders, 21, was found guilty of murder Dec. 13 after a bench trial before Judge Carol Howard, according to Cook County court records.

Sanders and his roommate, the 22-year-old Fort, had argued about his not paying enough for rent and groceries, and her use of Sanders’ LINK card, authorities said at the time.

About 10:45 p.m. June 6, 2014, Sanders went to their apartment in the 100 block of North Keeler and asked to use Fort’s phone to call a cab, authorities said. He left, but returned a few minutes later and went to the bathroom, before going into Fort’s bedroom and shooting her.

A witness heard a pop and saw Sanders run out, authorities said.

Fort was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced dead less than an hour later, authorities said.

Carnesha Fort | photo provided

Her four children—ages 3, 5, 7 and 8 at the time—were home when she was shot, Fort’s boyfriend, Darnell “LA” Tubbs, said at the time of her murder.

After the shooting, Sanders admitted to a friend that he had “messed up,” and asked his mother to drive him to Indiana, authorities said. However, on the way, he got a call from police asking him to return to the city because they had questions about the murder.

Sanders told his mother he didn’t want to go back to prison, then got out of her car and ran away at a gas station, authorities said. He had previously served a three-year sentence for a drug charge.

Judge Howard sentenced Sanders to 60 years in prison Friday, according to court records. He will receive credit for 927 days served in the Cook County Jail, and must serve three years of supervised release.

Sanders has begun serving his sentence at the Stateville Correctional Center, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections

Prosecutors: Erick Sanders killed roommate Carnesha Fort in fight over rent and groceries

Michael Lansu — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 11:53:55 -0500

Erick Sanders / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

After allegedly gunning down his on-and-off roommate in her bedroom last month, Cook County prosecutors said a sweaty and nervous Erick Sanders repeatedly admitted to a friend that he “messed up” and asked his mother to drive him to Indiana.

As the mother and son made their way south, Sanders got a call from police asking him to return to the city because they had questions about Carnesha Fort’s murder.

But 19-year-old Sanders, who got out of prison earlier this year, told his mother he didn’t want to go back behind bars and got out of her car and fled at a gas station before stealing her cell phone and $40, Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini said.

Sanders was back in prison Thursday after he was ordered held without bond for Fort’s June 6th murder.

Sanders had lived on and off with the mother of four and others in a Garfield Park residence after he was released from prison in February for violating his probation in a drug case.

But he had recently started fighting with Fort, 22, over his contributions for rent and groceries and Fort’s use of Sanders’ LINK card, Santini said.

On the night of the murder, Sanders came to the residence in the 100 block of North Keeler Avenue and asked to use Fort’s phone to call a cab, Santini said.

Sanders left the residence but came back a few minutes later claiming to have left his phone there, Santini said.

Sanders went to the bathroom before entering Fort’s bedroom and shooting her, Santini said.

A witness heard a pop and saw Sanders run out, prosecutors said.

Carnesha Fort / Family photo

Fort’s four children -- ages 3, 5, 7 and 8 -- were home when she was killed, her longtime boyfriend, Darnell “LA” Tubbs said.

A child was heard yelling from the window of the apartment for help, Santini said.

Sanders, whose address was listed in the 0-100 block of North Long, was allegedly identified by witnesses in a physical line-up.

Fort worked for Hudson Concessions in a stockroom at O’Hare International Airport, but had dreams of going back to school to pursue a career as a pharmacist, Tubbs said.

PHOTO GALLERY: Carnesha Fort laid to rest

Michael Lansu — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 11:36:16 -0500

PHOTOS BY ALEX WROBLEWSKI
For Chicago Sun-Times

Carnesha Fort, 22, was fatally shot in her West Garfield Park home June 6. She was laid to rest on Monday.

Comment of the Day: "I get tears in my eyes this is so close to home for me"

Michael Lansu — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 16:00:14 -0500

Carnesha Fort was fatally shot this month inside her West Garfield Park home. Reader "Ahsha" posted this about the killing:

I get tears in my eyes this is so close to home for me I watch this little girl grow up I know her children father aunties and uncles and cousins and grandmother it hurts my heart to see the pain that they are going through R.I.P.Nesha

'Only a coward would do this to a woman,' boyfriend says of Carnesha Fort murder

Emily Brosious — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 15:37:35 -0500

BY JESSICA KOSCIELNIAK AND EMILY BROSIOUS
Homicide Watch Chicago

Carnesha Fort had the “heart of a lion”, her longtime boyfriend, Darnell "LA" Tubbs, said.

Tubbs, 22, knew he found love in Carnesha Fort. Love that was supposed to last a lifetime.

Fort, 22, was fatally shot at her home in the 100 block of North Keeler Avenue in the West Garfield Park community about 10:45 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Tubbs said Fort was home with her children when the gunman shot her in the bedroom.

“I think he brought that gun because he thought I was going to be there,” Tubbs said. “And him, as a man, to still pull a stunt and kill her ... Only a coward would do this to a woman.”

Nobody has been charged in the murder, and Tubbs refuses go back to the apartment or allow Fort's children back in their home.

For Mother's Day, Tubbs made Fort matching hooded sweatshirts that proclaimed his feelings: "LA loves (heart) Nesha"

In the days after Fort's murder, Tubbs' wore his sweatshirt proudly.

“She was my motivation,” Tubbs said. “Seeing her, every day getting up and going to work, smiling, coming home no matter what. And still having time to be there for her kids, to help them with their homework -- made me feel love.”

Fort worked for Hudson Concessions in a stockroom at O’Hare International Airport, but had dreams of going back to school to pursue a career as a pharmacist. Tubbs said Fort focused on advancing her career and doing right by her four young sons -- ages 3, 5, 7 and 8.

“They know she’s gone, but I don’t think they fully understand,” Tubbs said.

He plans to help raise Fort’s children, even though he is not their biological father. He wants to be a positive influence in their lives and doesn’t want her children falling victim to the violence that took their mother’s life.

“Youth are so at risk here,” Tubbs said. “Ain’t no structure. Poverty, drugs, money, ambition, hate, jealousy, envy ... It’s all about material things. It just consumes us."

Carnesha Fort / Family photo

Tubbs said he knew people in the community who were fatally shot after being consumed by those material things -- but he has never anyone as close to his heart.

“She loved me for me, you know? My flaws, everything ... I never experienced love like this before in my life,” Tubbs said. “In the end, it was so quickly, so bittersweet.”

Fort had just celebrated her birthday May 31 with a party at Club M & M, and she had planned a trip to Puerto Rico later this year, Tubbs said.

Now he is planning the funeral for the woman he called a "goddess"

“The whole world just spun. It was like heaven and Earth moved,” he said.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Seven shot dead throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 09:00:23 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

At least seven people were murdered throughout Chicago last week -- the city's lowest homicide total in three weeks.

All seven people were killed by gunfire. The deceased were six men and a woman.

The seven killings are the lowest weekly total since five people were killed May 12-18, according to Homicide Watch Chicago data. The next two weeks had 11 and 14 homicides.

The most recent murder happened when 36-year-old Kennyone Pendelton was shot in the chest multiple times in the 4600 block of West Jackson Boulevard about 9:25 p.m. Saturday, authorities said. Pendelton, of the 1100 block of North Lawler Avenue, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

In the Washington Park neighborhood, 18-year-old Brian Weekly was shot multiple times in an alley in the 5600 block of South Wabash Avenue about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, authorities said. A 20-year-old man was also wounded but survived.

Weekly, of the 1400 block of West 79th Street, died at the scene, according to the examiner’s office.

On Friday, 22-year-old Carnesha Fort was shot in the 100 block of North Keeler Avenue about 10:45 p.m., authorities said. Fort, who lived on the block, died at Mount Sinai Hospital less than an hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

In Rogers Park, 18-year-old Alante Vallejo was shot in the 1900 block of West Howard Street about 1:45 p.m. Friday, authorities said. A 20-year-old man was also wounded but survived.

Vallejo, of the 200 block of Ridge Avenue in Evanston, died less than an hour later at Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston.

Friend Jodeci Johnson said Vallejo had recently graduated from Evanston Township High School and was "planning his future."

On Thursday, 27-year-old Derrick Bowens was standing outside his home in the 7000 block of South Morgan Street when when a black car pulled up and a passenger in the rear seat shot him in the abdomen about 9:50 a.m., authorities said.

Bowens died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn hours later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Wednesday, 18-year-old Ronald Holliman was shot in the 4900 block of West West End Avenue about 5 p.m., authorities said. Two other men were wounded but survived.

Holliman, of the 5200 block of West Race Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the medical examiner's office.

On Tuesday, Jerome Lofton fatally shot 21-year-old Darrien Jordan during an argument in the 3900 block of West Grenshaw Street, prosecutors said. Lofton, 32, of the 3700 block of West Polk Street, allegedly grabbed a gun from a vehicle and shot Jordan in the chest about 1:30 p.m.

Jordan, 21, who lived on the block, died hours later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the medical examiner's office.

Additionally, 25-year-old David M. Hernandez, of the 6000 block of South Lorel Avenue, died Monday from wounds suffered in a drive-by Sunday evening shooting in the 900 block of West 32nd Street in the Bridgeport neighborhood, authorities said.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 165 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including seven people killed by police.

Additionally, the state’s attorney’s office filed first-degree murder charges against a speeding motorist who killed an off-duty police officer while trying to flee police even though the autopsy ruled the death an accident.

Chicago Police, which counts murders different, have ruled some of those homicides as involuntary manslaughter, justified self-defense or accidents.

Carnesha Fort fatally shot in West Garfield Park

Michael Lansu — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 11:06:51 -0500

Carnesha Fort was shot to death in the West Garfield Park neighborhood Friday night.

Fort, 22, was shot in the 100 block of North Keeler Avenue about 10:45 p.m., authorities said.

Fort, who lived on the block, died at Mount Sinai Hospital less than an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

As news of Fort's death spread, friends took to social media to express their condolences.

Feel like my heart was snatched out my chest, Rest Well Sister Im Gone Miss You So So Much.. R.I.P Carnesha Fort.

— ☆WelcomeToDeeWorld☆ (@Chi_Rack) June 7, 2014

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating if the shooting is domestic related.