Darrell Tolbert | Homicide Watch Chicago

Mother: 'I have no witnesses for justice for my son'

Michael Lansu — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 11:47:01 -0600

BY EMILY BROSIOUS
Homicide Watch Chicago

Darrell Tolbert was a "momma's boy" who, earlier this year, elaborately decorated an entire wall of his mother's home with carefully composed photos and artfully arranged notes for her birthday.

His mother never got the chance to return the favor because Tolbert was fatally shot Nov. 4 in the 600 block of North Avers Avenue in the West Garfield Park neighborhood, authorities said. He would have turned 37 about a month later, and his mother had already started the birthday preparations.

"I was preparing in my dining room for [a] celebration with his family," his mother, Larain Tolbert, said. "This is the first birthday in 37 years that he won’t be here. I just want to celebrate with my family and let my son know that he’s with me in spirit always."

Growing up, Darrell Tolbert enjoyed watching cartoons and playing sports, especially football. Other hobbies included music, and he enjoyed singing and rapping for fun.

Darrell Tolbert, a father of two, was a family man who always remained close to his mother and spent a lot of time at her home.

"He was really close with me. We were like twins," his mother said. "He was just an awesome son -- a momma’s boy.

"He did everything for me. Never a question like 'why?' or 'what?' Anything I asked him to do, he did it right away."

When Darrell Tolbert wasn't spending time with his mother, he could often be found visiting his grandmother and sister on the West Side.

Larain Tolbert said her son was killed near his sister's home after a confrontation with a neighborhood drug dealer.

"The story I get, is that [a] young guy took it upon himself to avenge the little disagreement," she said. "He shot my son in cold blood."

Larain Tolbert said her family believes they who killed her son, and she told police, but no witnesses have yet come forward.

"I have no witnesses for justice for my son," she said. "Everybody knows what happened, but no one is talking."

Darrell Tolbert / Photo from Facebook

Larain Tolbert said the hardest part is knowing that her 2-year-old grandson will grow up without a father.

"I don’t think he understands, because he still looks for him," she said. "When he comes in the house, he runs back there to where his dad used to sleep. And I just explain to him, he in heaven."

Larain Tolbert said her own mother has cancer, but it is too risky for her visit her West Side home since her son's murder.

"It’s hard for me because I hear so much ... I hear that they’re walking around saying they have bond money and they’re armed and dangerous," she said. "I have to get in the car, pick my mom up and get away from there because I just don’t want to go around."

Despite the difficulties, Larain Tolbert says she is staying strong for her family, whom she hopes can find forgiveness and peace because that is what her son would have wanted.

"I’m hurt by this, but I’m strong. I’ve been in church a long time," Larain Tolbert said. "I’ve accepted that my son is not coming back and I put my life in God’s hands that I will see him some day."

WEEK IN REVIEW: 12 murdered throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 09:00:50 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Twelve people were murdered throughout Chicago last week.

Six of the slayings happened over the weekend, when at least 11 other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood when 44-year-old Luis Zuniga was shot in the 2800 block of North Lotus Avenue about 2:20 p.m., authorities said.

Family members said he had pulled up to his driveway after returning home from church and was getting out of his white minivan when someone in a parked vehicle fired shots. Police said the shooter then drove off.

In the River North neighborhood, 29-year-old Willis Jefferson was stabbed in the back multiple times and police found him in the 800 block of North Orleans Street about 2:20 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Jefferson, of the 7200 block of South Vincennes Avenue, later died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Saturday, 21-year-old Rogelio Margil was with a group in the 1600 block of North Tripp Avenue in the Humboldt Park community when an argument started and an alleged gang member shot Margil in the head about 7:30 p.m., authorities said.

Margil, of the 1400 block of North Kildare Avenue, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died at 3:22 p.m. Sunday, according to the medical examiner's office.

In the Chatham neighborhood, police found 18-year-old Johnathan Cartwright shot in the 800 block of East 87th Place about 5:05 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Cartwright, whose home address was not immediately available, was dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner's office.

On Friday, 15-year-old Deon Gilbert was walking in the 10400 block of South Bensley Avenue in the South Deering community when a dark minivan pulled up and somebody inside opened fire about 10:45 p.m., authorities said.

Gilbert, of the 8100 block of South Evans Avenue, was shot in the abdomen area and later died at University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, authorities said.

In the West Ridge neighborhood, 3-year-old Donnell Coakley Jr. was found unresponsive in his bed in the 6500 block of North Seeley Avenue about 8:40 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Donnell was taken to Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he died about an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Donnell's parents, Donnell Coakley Sr., 24, and Tylesha G. Griffin, 22, were each charged with first-degree murder in the boy's death. Dominique Lott, a 25-year-old cousin who lived in the home, was also charged in the Donnell's death for allegedly smoking marijuana near the child's corpse, prosecutors said.

In the South Shore neighborhood, police found 22-year-old Lydell Lynch shot multiple times in a doorway of a second-floor apartment in the 7300 block of South Blackstone Avenue about 1 a.m. Friday, authorities said.

Lynch, who lived in the building, died at Jackson Park Hospital about an hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Thursday, 39-year-old Joseph Lewis was outside in the 7900 block of South Essex Avenue when somebody opened fire about 2:40 a.m., authorities said.

Lewis, of the 7600 block of South Essex Avenue, was struck by several bullets and friends drove him to South Shore Hospital, where he died less than an hour later, authorities said.

On Wednesday, 25-year-old Gregory D. McKinney was shot in the back and chest in the 100 block of South Pulaski Road in the West Garfield Park community about 5 p.m., authorities said.

McKinney, of the 4000 block of West Wilcox Street, died about 45 minutes later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Tuesday, police found 36-year-old Darrell Tolbert shot in the head and chest in the 600 block of North Avers Avenue in the East Garfield Park neighborhood at 7:17 p.m., authorities said.

Tolbert, of the 800 block of West 78th Street, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Monday, 33-year-old Doug A. Chambliss was in the 700 block of South Karlov Avenue in the West Garfield Park neighborhood when two males walked up and opened fire at 9:07 a.m., authorities said.

Chambliss, who lived on the block, was shot in the back and leg and died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, authorities said.

The killing started when 48-year-old Veronica Wilson fatally stabbed her boyfriend, Andrew Brown, during an argument in the 3000 block of East Cheltenham Place about 12:20 a.m. Monday, prosecutors said.

The exchange started in their home about two blocks away when Brown accused Wilson of cheating, said Assistant State’s Attorney Lashunda Cooperwood.

Brown is being held on $800,000 bond.

Additionally, 61-year-old James Watson died Wednesday after he was shot in a lounge in the 700 block of East 83rd Street in the Chatham neighborhood after an argument erupted about 1:50 a.m. Aug. 2, authorities said.

An autopsy confirmed Watson, of the 7300 block of South Union Avenue, died from being shot multiple times and the death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner's office.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 381 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including 14 people killed by police.

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

Comment of the Day: "He was a good man and father [and] had another child on the way

Michael Lansu — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 16:00:54 -0600

Darrell Tolbert, 36, was fatally shot Tuesday in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. Reader "cdw" posted this about him:

He was a good man and father nd had another child on the way. He will be truly missed.

Darrell Tolbert fatally shot in East Garfield Park

Michael Lansu — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 16:51:53 -0600

Darrell Tolbert was fatally shot in the East Garfield Park neighborhood Tuesday night.

Police found Tolbert, 36, shot in the head and chest in the 600 block of North Avers Avenue at 7:17 p.m. Tuesday, authorities said.

Tolbert, of the 800 block of West 78th Street, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. A Wednesday autopsy confirmed he died from multiple gunshot wounds and the death was ruled a homicide.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire