Damita Collins | Homicide Watch Chicago

Man gets 30 years for killing his mother, Damita Collins, during argument in their Ashburn home in 2015

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 12:18:50 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Andre Brown | Chicago Police

When Andre Brown and his mother, Damita Collins, got into an argument about his not having a girlfriend last year at their Ashburn home, he ended up stabbing her to death, according to Cook County prosecutors. And for that, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Brown was found guilty of murder on May 27 after a bench trial before Judge Matthew Coghlan, according to Cook County court records.

On Jan. 5, 2015, he stabbed the 54-year-old Collins in the chest, then slit her throat in the home they shared in the 3500 block of West 77th Place on Jan. 5, 2015, authorities said at the time.

Collins was administrator of the Trumbull Park Head Start Program at Ada S. McKinley School.

Collins’ husband was in the basement eating dinner and watching the Bulls game about 9 p.m. when he heard several loud noises upstairs, prosecutors said. He went upstairs and found his bedroom door locked, but before he could open it with the key, Brown yanked the door open and forced his way out,

Damita Collins | photo provided

He then found his wife lying on the floor in a pool of blood. He called 911 and tried to help her, but she died at the scene, authorities said.

The man then chased Brown, his stepson, but the younger man ran out of the house and drove off in his mother’s car, prosecutors said.

Investigators found a defensive wound on Collins’ thumb and a bloody knife in a butcher block in the kitchen, prosecutors said. Brown, who was 26 at the time, was arrested the following day.

He gave a videotaped statement to detectives admitting to killing his mother during an argument because she kept “putting him down and telling him that he needed to get a girlfriend,” prosecutors said.

Judge Coghlan sentenced Brown to 30 years in prison Wednesday, according to court records. He will receive credit for 541 days served in the Cook County Jail, and must serve three years of supervised release.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Six killed throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 09:02:08 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Five men were fatally shot and a woman was stabbed to death last week in Chicago.

The most recent killing happened when 35-year-old Michael Harrison was shot while standing on a sidewalk in the 0-100 block of South Kostner Avenue in the West Garfield Park neighborhood about 10:40 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Harrison, 35, of the 2700 block of West Jackson Boulevard, was shot in the abdomen and died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County at 12:29 a.m., authorities said. A 31-year-old man was also wounded, police said.

On Thursday, 51-year-old Chicago Carriage Cab driver Chinedu Madu was shot in the chest during a robbery in the 1200 block of South Albany Avenue in the North Lawndale community about 8:45 p.m., authorities said.

Madu, of the 500 block of East 33rd Place, died at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Tyrese Bell, 24, of the 1200 block of South Albany Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a peace officer, police said.

On Tuesday, Joe Bennett, Corie Williams and a 14-year-old boy were shot while were standing in the 2200 block of East 79th Street in the South Shore neighborhood when a gunman walked up and opened fire about 3:20 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Bennett, 19, of the 8000 block of South Chappel Avenue, was shot in the head and dead at the scene, authorities said.

Williams, 18, of the 7900 block of South East End Avenue, was shot in the head and died at Christ Medical Center, authorities said.

The 14-year-old boy was shot in both legs and taken to Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center for treatment, according to police.

On Monday, 24-year-old Larry Edwards was sitting in a parked car in the 9300 block of South Burnside Avenue in Chatham when a group exited an alley and at least one person opened fire about 11:40 p.m., authorities said.

Edwards, of the 1300 block of West 109th Street, was struck by the gunfire and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn about an hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The killing started about 9:45 p.m. Monday when Andre Brown fatally stabbed his 54-year-old mother at their home in the 3500 block of West 77th Street about 9:45 p.m. Monday because she kept “putting him down and telling him that he needed to get a girlfriend,” prosecutors said.

The woman, Damita Collins, died at the scene in her Ashburn home, authorities said. was the site director of Trumbull Park Head Start Program, part of the Ada S. McKinley schools.

Brown is being held on $1 million bond.

Additionally, 20-year-old Marsalis Holman died Tuesday after prosecutors said his friend James Gonnigan accidentally shot him dead Sunday night in their home in the 1300 block of South Kolin Avenue in the North Lawndale neighborhood. Gonnigan, 25, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and ordered held on $100,000 bond.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least eight Chicago deaths in 2015 a homicide.

Prosecutors: Andre Brown fatally stabbed his mother when she told him 'he needed to get a girlfriend'

Michael Lansu — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 14:44:00 -0600

Andre Brown / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

A Southwest Side man fatally stabbed his 54-year-old mother Monday night because she kept "putting him down and telling him that he needed to get a girlfriend," prosecutors said.

Assistant State's Attorney Jamie Santini claimed Andre Brown stabbed Damita Collins in the chest and slit her throat in a home they shared in the 3500 block of West 77th Place.

Collins was the site director of Trumbull Park Head Start Program, part of the Ada S. McKinley schools.

Santini said Collins' husband was in the basement eating dinner and watching television when he heard several loud noises upstairs about 9 p.m. Monday. A police source said the man was watching the Bulls game.

The man went upstairs and found his bedroom door locked, but before he could open it with the key, Brown yanked the door open and forced his way out, Santini said.

Inside the bedroom, the man found his wife lying on the floor in a pool of blood, Santini said.

The man chased Brown, his step-son, but he eventually fled the home and drove off in his mother's car, Santini said.

The man called 911 and attempted to help his wife, who died at the scene, authorities said.

Investigators found a defensive wound on Collins' thumb and a bloody knife in a butcher block in the kitchen, Santini said.

On Tuesday, McKinley schools sent a letter to staff and offered grief counseling available.

“It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Damita Collins. Damita was involved in a fatal incident last night. Police are overseeing the matter. Our hearts go out to her family,” the letter said.

Damita Collins / Photo from LinkedIn

Police arrested Brown, 26, on Tuesday, authorities said. He had cuts on his hands and face, as well as blood on his hands, shoes and clothes, Santini said.

Brown gave a videotaped statement to detectives admitting to stabbing his mother during an argument because she put him down and said he needed a girlfriend, Santini said.

Assistant Public Defender Chandra Smith said Brown is a life-long Illinois resident who completed high school and attended some college classes. He is single with no children, she said.

On Wednesday, Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil ordered Brown held on $1 million bond and issued a next court date of Jan. 27.

-- Contributing: Jordan Owen and Reema Amin

Damita Collins, 54, fatally stabbed in Ashburn

Michael Lansu — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 16:36:34 -0600

Damita Collins / Photo from LinkedIn

BY JORDAN OWEN AND REEMA AMIN
Sun-Times Media

A South Side pre-school administrator was fatally stabbed during a domestic fight in the Ashburn neighborhood Monday night, authorities said.

Damita Collins, 54, was stabbed once in the chest in the 3500 block of West 77th Place about 9:45 p.m. Monday, authorities said. Police described the attack as a “domestic-related incident.”

Collins, who lived on the block, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Collins was the site director of Trumbull Park Head Start Program, part of the Ada S. McKinley schools.

“It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Damita Collins,” according to a letter distributed to school staff.

“Damita was involved in a fatal incident last night. Police are overseeing the matter. Our hearts go out to her family, the letter said.” The school has also made grief counseling available.

A spokesperson for the McKinley schools declined to comment on Collins’ death Tuesday afternoon.

A 26-year-old man was taken into custody and charges are pending Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Area South detectives are investigating.