David E. Finney | Homicide Watch Chicago

Friend: Slain artist David Finney made mural for movie 'Light It Up'

Michael Lansu — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 11:33:06 -0500

David Finney / Submitted photo

BY MATT McCALL
Homicide Watch Chicago

David Finney was almost done with an airbrushed mural of Michael Jordan and the 1992 U.S. men's Olympic basketball team, a friend said.

He will never get the chance to finish that mural because he was fatally shot April 10 during a domestic argument at his Morgan Park home, authorities said.

Friend Ashley Jones said Finney was an airbrush artist whose Roseland studio, Beyond Urban, kept the neighborhood safe.

Jones, 23, said Finney was always coming up with new ideas for drawings.

In 1999, Finney had a minor moment of fame as a mural artist for the film “Light It Up,” starring Usher Raymond and Forest Whitaker, Jones said.

Finney and Jones met at St. John’s Baptist Church, and she described him as a life-long mentor who encouraged her to go to school for graphic design.

“He taught me how to be a lady,” Jones said. “He saw me grow up from a baby to a lady.”

Prosecutors said Finney returned to his home in the 11300 block of South Green Street about 10 p.m. April 10 and got into an argument about money and bills with his brother, 42-year-old James Finney.

David Finney’s girlfriend then heard a single gunshot and James Finney say, “I just popped your ass,” prosecutors said.

James Finney ran away after the shooting, but police arrested him about 15 minutes later, prosecutors said. He was charged with first-degree murder and is currently being held on $1 million bond.

James Finney will be back in court May 1.

“[He] didn’t deserve what happened to him,” Jones said. “If anything were to happen, he would have wanted it to happen in his presence. He wanted us to be safe.”

Comment of the Day: "At least [you are] in heaven with mother [and] father now"

Michael Lansu — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 15:52:19 -0500

Prosecutors claim James Finney fatally shot his brother, 39-year-old David Finney, during an April 10 dispute over money in their Morgan Park home. Reader "Ashley" posted this about David Finney:

These are my brothers I'm heartbroken n I'm going to miss my big brother always I love u at least u in heaven with mother n father now

Prosecutors: James Finney killed brother David Finney in fight over money at Morgan Park home

Michael Lansu — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 19:59:13 -0500

James Finney / Photo from Chicago Police

BY REEMA AMIN
Sun-Times Media

A Morgan Park man shot his brother to death during an argument over money at their Far South Side home late Friday, prosecutors said.

David Finney, 39, returned to his home in the 11300 block of South Green Street about 10 p.m. Friday with his girlfriend and friend, said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Barry Quinn.

Once inside, David Finney and his brother, 42-year-old James Finney, got into an argument over money and bills, Quinn said.

David Finney's girlfriend went to his bedroom when the brothers began to fight, then heard a single gunshot and James Finney say, "I just popped your ass," prosecutors said.

The friend, who had been waiting outside for a pizza, walked into the home and saw James Finney standing over his brother, Quinn said.

David Finney had been shot in the chest and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

After the shooting, James Finney left the home but police found him about 15 minutes later, according to Quinn, who said James Finney later told police he killed his brother.

James Finney, 42, was charged with first-degree murder and Judge Donald Panarese ordered him held on $1 bond during a Monday court hearing.

He was charged in 2013 with beating his brother, but David Finney did not show up to court and the case didn’t proceed further, Quinn said. He was also sentenced to 30 days in jail for a 2014 misdemeanor battery conviction.

James Finney, who shook his head as prosecutors detailed the killing, is a graduate of Morgan Park High School who currently works at a warehouse, according to a public defender.

He will be back in court May 1.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Five killed throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 09:14:03 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Four men were fatally shot and a 56-year-old woman was suffocated last week in Chicago.

Two of the fatal shootings happened over the weekend, when at least 26 other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened when a 22-year-old man sitting a vehicle parked in the 400 block of East 72nd Street in the Park Manor community was shot multiple times about 8:40 p.m. Saturday, police said. The Cook County medical examiner’s office has not yet released his name.

On Friday, 39-year-old David E. Finney was fatally shot during a domestic argument at his home in the 11300 block of South Green Street in the Morgan Park neighborhood about 10:35 p.m., authorities said.

On Wednesday, prosecutors claim passing motorist Joseph Hill stopped near near East 84th Street and South Essex Avenue in South Chicago to ask a group walking down the street if they had marijuana. Hill then opened fire, striking Devante Warnsby in the back of the head about 11 a.m., prosecutors said.

Warnsby, 21, of the 8400 block of South Oglesby Avenue, died that night at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the medical examiner's office.

In Logan Square, somebody in a vehicle shot 24-year-old Mikal Malik Johnson in the 2700 block of West Bloomingdale Avenue about 3 a.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Johnson, of the 1200 block of West Belden Avenue, died Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the medical examiner's office.

Johnson was a 2008 graduate of Rolling Meadows High School, where he was a star running back for the football team and finished third in the state wrestling tournament, family said.

On Tuesday, prosecutors claim 33-year-old Robert Hill suffocated his girlfriend, 56-year-old Sandra Fellows, inside her home in the 6600 block of West Beldin Avenue.

Police arrested Hill the next day when he returned to the crime scene with a garbage can to dispose of the body, prosecutors said.

In 2015,, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 98 Chicago deaths a homicide.

David Finney fatally shot in Morgan Park

Michael Lansu — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 22:54:10 -0500

David E. Finney was fatally shot during a domestic fight at his Morgan Park home late Friday, authorities said.

Finney, 39, got into an argument with a male who pulled out a handgun and shot him in the chest at his home in the 11300 block of South Green Street about 10:35 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Finney later died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Police called the shooting “domestic-related” and Area South detectives are questioning a "person of interest," police said.