Claudia Mister | Homicide Watch Chicago

Bond denied for Iowa man charged with fatal shooting of Claudia Mister in Morgan Park

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 14:04:41 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Darrick Wells | Chicago Police

Gun in hand, he paced back and forth in the parking lot outside a Morgan Park nightclub before fatally shooting Claudia Mister as she and her friends walked outside, Cook County prosecutors said in court Wednesday.

Darrick Wells, 36, charged with one count of first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting on Sept. 3, was ordered held without bond, according to court records. Police said the suspect's name is Darrick Wells, while prosecutors spelled his name Derrick.

Mister and friends were leaving the Black Cat Lounge in the 1600 block of West 115th Street about 2:45 a.m. that morning when Wells walked up and shot at them several times, Assistant State’s Attorney Joe DiBella said in court.

Claudia Mister

The 28-year-old Mister was shot four times and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she was pronounced dead at 5:35 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

A man also suffered a graze wound in the shooting, DiBella said.

Investigators reviewed surveillance video which showed the suspect pacing back and forth in the parking lot with a gun in his hand, DiBella said. Five spent .45 caliber casings were also recovered from the scene.

The day after the shooting, police released the surveillance images and a “concerned citizen” gave investigators Wells’ name, DiBella said.

Two eyewitnesses also identified Wells as the shooter, and a third identified him as the man pacing in the parking lot, DiBella said.

Wells fled to Iowa, where he was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force on Sept. 15, authorities said.

Chicago Police detectives went to Iowa and interviewed Wells, and he identified himself in a still photo from the surveillance video, DiBella said.

Wells was taken into custody Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors said he and Mister didn’t know each other.

Wells’ public defender said in court that his client is married with four children, and lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Judge Maria Kuriakos-Cecil ordered him held without bond.

Darrick Wells to appear in bond court Wednesday, charged with the murder of Claudia Mister in Morgan Park

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 13:31:13 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Darrick Wells | Chicago Police

A man arrested last week in Iowa for the fatal shooting of Claudia Mister in Morgan Park has been extradited to Chicago and is scheduled to appear in bond court Wednesday, according to Chicago Police.

Darrick Wells, 36, was identified as a suspect in the fatal shooting of the 28-year-old Mister outside a nightclub in the 1600 block of West 115th Place about 2:45 a.m. Sept. 3, according to police and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Authorities said Mister was standing outside with friends when the suspect walked up and fired a handgun several times.

Claudia Mister

Mister, of the 10600 block of South Church, was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she was pronounced dead at 5:35 a.m., authorities said.

The day after the shooting, Chicago Police released a community alert with surveillance photos of the suspect.

The alert prompted "several key leads from people who called detectives with information about the shooting," police said. Using that information, Area South detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Wells.

The U. S. Marshals Service Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force coordinated with the Great Lakes Regional Task Force, Cedar Rapids police and Chicago Police to apprehend Wells, according to the statement. After hours of surveillance, he was identified and taken into custody in the 1800 block of 5th Avenue in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sept. 15 without incident.

Chicago Police took Wells into custody Tuesday and he was charged with first-degree murder, police said.

Wells, who lives in Cedar Rapids, is scheduled to appear in bond court Wednesday.

Suspect arrested by Feds in Iowa for fatal shooting of Claudia Mister outside club in Morgan Park

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 10:57:38 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

A man wanted for the fatal shooting of Claudia Mister outside a Morgan Park nightclub last week was arrested Monday morning in Iowa.

Darrick Wells | Linn County sheriff's office

Darrick “Nelson” Wells, 37, was identified as a suspect in the fatal shooting of the 28-year-old Mister outside a club in the 1600 block of West 115th Place about 2:45 a.m. on Sept. 3, according to a statement from the U.S. Marshals Service.

Authorities said Mister was standing outside with friends when the suspect walked up and fired a handgun several times.

Mister, of the 10600 block of South Church, was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she died three hours later, authorities said.

Claudia Mister

The day after the shooting, Chicago Police released surveillance photos of the suspect in the shooting. He was described as a black man about 6-foot and 200 pounds with a medium complexion.

The U.S. Marshals Service Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force narrowed the search for Wells after a warrant was issued for a residence in the 1800 block of 5th Avenue in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, according to the statement.

Marshals coordinated with the Great Lakes Regional Task Force, Cedar Rapids police and Chicago Police to apprehend Wells, according to the statement. After hours of surveillance, he was identified and taken into custody without incident.

Wells is being held in the Linn County Correctional Center awaiting extradition to Illinois.

Police release surveillance photos of man who fatally shot Claudia Mister in Morgan Park

Jeff Mayes — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 15:53:47 -0500

Chicago Police have released surveillance photos of a suspect who fatally shot 28-year-old Claudia Mister early Thursday in Morgan Park.

Surveillance photo of the suspect in a fatal shooting early Thursday on the Far South Side. | Chicago Police

Mister was outside standing with friends in the 1600 block of West 115th Place about 2:45 a.m. when the suspect walked up and fired a handgun several times, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Mister, who lived in the 10600 block of South Church, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she died at 5:35 a.m., authorities said.

Surveillance photo of the suspect in a fatal shooting early Thursday on the Far South Side. | Chicago Police

The suspect is described as a black man about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds with a medium complexion, police said. He was wearing a white shirt and gray jeans, and has several visible tattoos, including on the back of his neck, on both forearms and on his hands.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect is asked to call Area South detectives at (312) 747-8271.

—Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Claudia Mister fatally shot in Morgan Park

Jeff Mayes — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 10:41:59 -0500

Claudia Mister was fatally shot early Thursday in Morgan Park.

The 28-year-old Mister was outside about 2:45 a.m. in the 1600 block of West 115th Place when someone walked up and shot her in the torso, Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

Mister, who lived in the 10600 block of South Church, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she was pronounced dead at 5:35 a.m., authorities said.

—Chicago Sun-Times Wire