David J. Plank Sr. | Homicide Watch Chicago

Brother promises David Plank, killed by bullet not intended for him, will be attending parade for his beloved Cubs

Lou Foglia — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 10:48:45 -0500

David Plank with his youngest son Davey Jr. Plank. | Family photo

By LOU FOGLIA
Homicide Watch Chicago

Life wasn’t easy for David J. Plank.

There were battles with depression, a divorce, and lack of steady work, family members said. But that never stopped him from being the best possible father to his two teenage sons.

“He was there every chance he could be,” said his oldest brother, Mark Plank. “His boys were his priority. There's no doubt about that.”

No doubt from David’s co-workers either, who told his brother the 54-year-old worked extra hours in the laundry room of Little Company of Mary Hospital to make sure his sons had new clothing and supplies for school.

Plank, of the 9000 block of South Parkside in Oak Lawn, was shot to death Aug. 3 in the Avalon Park neighborhood, Chicago Police said.

He was driving to work in the 8400 block of South Stony Island when he was shot in the upper torso, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Police said the bullet entered Plank’s vehicle through the passenger-side door.

He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead, according to authorities.

Plank was not thought to be the intended target of the shooting, police said.

Mark Plank recalled learning of his brother’s death.

“I almost fainted.” he said. “I couldn’t believe it, my hands were shaking. “You hear about [violence] on TV, but when it comes to your front step, there are no words.”

Plank said he later learned his brother was shot in the heart, according to medical records obtained by the family. That was a hard fact to comprehend, because his brother was someone who “despised violence.”

“His heart was big.” Mark Plank said. "David was not a saint, but his heart was big and he was compassionate. It’s just mind boggling.”

Mark Plank, left, with his brother, David Plank. | Family Photo

Since his brother’s death, Plank said Sundays have been difficult to endure. He is still dealing with the absence of David, who would call him every Sunday. The brothers sometimes talked for more than two hours.

“It was as if I was still living in Chicago,” said Plank, who lives in Los Angeles. “We would just pick up where we left off—that was the beauty of it.”

David was eight weeks into a new job at Jackson Park Hospital when he was killed. He worked the second shift as a maintenance man—a job his brother said he enjoyed because he loved working with his hands.

He said he was always inspired by his brother, who lacked a college degree but “remained consistent in his endeavors.”

David Plank bounced from job to job over the years, often taking whatever work was available. There were periods of unemployment, and home wasn’t always in the same place. He lived out of hotels and with relatives following a divorce three years ago, but stayed focused on providing for his sons.

“When people are desperate, sometimes they do desperate things, Plank said. “But David ... he didn’t go the low road. He just busted his a** and kept plugging away.”

David was an avid fisherman and would take his sons on trips to nearby forest preserves. It was a tradition his father had started when he was growing up with his two brothers in south suburban Oak Lawn.

David Plank during a fishing trip. | Family Photo

“His spirituality was being in nature," Mark Plank said. “He really wanted to pass that onto his sons.”

Nearly a month after his death, David’s oldest son, David Plank Jr., invited friends and family to Arrowhead Lake in Palos Heights, his father's favorite fishing location. They celebrated the life of David with fishing and music. David was also a guitarist and member of numerous bands throughout his life.

Despite a Southwest-Side upbringing, David was a devoted fan of the Chicago Cubs. His brother, also a Cubs fan, called this year’s playoffs "bittersweet.”

“I just keep thinking of him, Plank said. “This could be the year ... and he’s not even going to be able to enjoy that.”

He said if the Cubs do win the World Series, he plans to attend the celebration rally and hoist a picture of his brother among the crowds.

“He’s going to be there in the best way we can provide.” Mark Plank said

Area South detectives are conducting a homicide investigation, but there are no new leads, according to family.

Family Photo

WEEK IN REVIEW: While new police shooting video and protests get headlines, 15 people killed in Chicago

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 16:00:07 -0500

By JEFF MAYES
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Last week saw the release of of the video of another fatal police shooting, and another round of protests from groups aimed at stopping police violence.

But while the city's attention was focused on the shooting that claimed the life of Paul O'Neal, at least 15 other people died from shootings and other violence in the city.

The latest week of violence brought the city's homicide total to over 425, according to the unofficial count by the Chicago Sun-Times Wire.

Six of the killings occurred over the weekend, capped by the killing of a man at his own birthday party in the University Village neighborhood early Sunday.
The 43-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman were at the party, attended by more than 100 people, when it was interrupted by gunfire about 2:20 a.m. in the 1300 block of West Hastings, according to police.

Everick Coleman, known to friends as Blue, was shot in the head and chest, and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. The woman suffered a gunshot wound to the left arm and back, and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where her condition was stabilized.
A 29-year-old man killed in a South Deering neighborhood shooting early Sunday. Someone shot Luis Marin several times in the head about 4:25 a.m. in the 11600 block of South Torrence, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.
The attack stemmed from a domestic dispute and home invasion that happened in the 10700 block of South Avenue N, police said. No one was in custody as of Tuesday morning.
A 26-year-old man was killed in a Pilsen neighborhood drive-by shooting Saturday evening. About 11 p.m., Victor Alvarado was walking in the 1900 block of South May when someone began shooting from a passing car, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Alvarado was shot multiple times and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died about 90 minutes later.
Maurice Selvy was killed and another man wounded in a shooting Saturday morning on the Near North Side, just a block from the victim’s home. The pair were outside in the 800 block of North Cambridge when someone opened fire about 3 a.m., striking the 32-year-old Selvy in the head and abdomen, and a 33-year-old man in the torso, according to police and the medical examiner's office.
They were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where Selvy, known to friends as Reese D, was pronounced dead, the medical examiner’s office said. The older man was listed in good condition, but police said he was being uncooperative with detectives.
A Riverdale neighborhood shooting left a 17-year-old boy dead and a 41-year-old man wounded early Sunday. About 2:20 a.m., the pair were outside in the 300 block of East 130th Street when they heard gunfire and realized they'd been hit, according to police.
They were taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where the boy died of a gunshot wound to the head at 7:57 a.m., according to police and the medical examiner’s office. He was identified as Corey Buckner.

The man was also shot, though it wasn’t clear on the body where he was hit. His condition stabilized, police said. A person was arrested after the shooting, but police on Tuesday said that person had been released without charges.
A 15-year-old boy died Saturday morning, a day after being wounded in what police called an "accidental" shooting as teens were playing with a gun in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. Mario Venegas Jr. suffered a gunshot wound to the head about 1:15 p.m. Friday inside a building in the 2700 block of West Evergreen, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.
Venegas was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died at 8:58 a.m. Saturday, authorities said. On Monday, two teenagers were charged with felonies for the shooting. Orlando Gonzalez, 18, was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon without a FOID card; and a 17-year-old boy was charged with involuntary manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm by someone under 18 years of age, according to police.
An 18-year-old man was shot to death early Saturday in the West Ridge neighborhood, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Miguel Bahena was walking about 12:30 a.m. in the 2100 block of West Devon Avenue when a male in a gray hoodie and light blue pants began shooting at him, authorities said. He was shot in the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 16-year-old boy was shot to death in a vacant Park Manor neighborhood lot Friday afternoon. Officers responding to a call of shots fired at 12:39 p.m. in the 6700 block of South Wabash found Delance Price unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Price was pronounced dead at the scene.
A man was stabbed to death Wednesday morning in the Ashburn neighborhood and his roommate has been charged with murder. Michael Montgomery was stabbed multiple times in the upper body about 5:10 a.m. during a domestic dispute at his home in the 3900 block of West 85th Street, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.
Montgomery was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he died about two hours later. An autopsy found he died of multiple sharp force injuries. Chadwick Perkins, 26, was charged Saturday with one count of first-degree murder for the attack at the home he shared with Montgomery.
Toryius Keefer crashed his vehicle after being shot in the head early Thursday in Roseland. Officers responded to a call of shots fired in the 10200 block of South Lafayette about 2:35 a.m. and found the vehicle crashed into the side of the garage, according to police.
Paramedics informed officers that the 21-year-old had been shot in the left eye and was dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office. The vehicle also sustained gunshot damage.
A 54-year-old Oak Lawn man was shot to death and a 17-year-old girl were injured Wednesday afternoon in an Avalon Park shooting. About 2:15 p.m., David J. Plank was driving in the 8400 block of South Stony Island when he heard gunfire and realized he’d been hit in the upper torso, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.
Plank was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead an hour later. The girl suffered a graze wound to the right calf, police said. Neither was thought to have been the intended target of the shooter.
Penny Gearhart, a fixture in the Uptown community for her work with StreetWise and other homeless programs, was killed Wednesday afternoon when she was caught in gang crossfire on the North Side street where she lived. The 57-year-old was walking with a 58-year-old man when they were caught in the middle of a gang-related shooting about 3:15 p.m. in the 4500 block of North Sheridan, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.
Someone in a passing vehicle opened fire, striking both victims, police said. They were taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where Gearhart died, according to the medical examiner’s office. The man was shot in the leg and was listed in good condition, police said.
A man was stabbed to death Tuesday afternoon in Austin. Ronnie Hutchen, 28, was found about 3:50 p.m. lying on the sidewalk in the 600 block of North Lotus with a stab wound to the abdomen, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. He was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where he was pronounced dead atbout six hours later.
A 29-year-old man was shot to death early Tuesday in the Austin neighborhood. About 12:30 a.m., Donta J. Lee was walking on a sidewalk in the 5200 block of West Gladys when a gunman got out of a white car and opened fire, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.
Lee, of west suburban Maywood, was shot in the chest and pronounced dead at the scene.
A 28-year-old man died after he was shot Monday afternoon in the West Lawn neighborhood. Miguel Diaz was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds on the sidewalk in the 3900 block of West 68th Street at 2:09 p.m., according to police and the medical examiner's office. Diaz, who lived on the same block, was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead three hours later.

David Plank of Oak Lawn killed in Avalon Park shooting that also left teenage girl wounded

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 10:16:13 -0500

David J. Plank was shot to death and 17-year-old girl wounded Wednesday afternoon in the Avalon Park neighborhood.

About 2:15 p.m., the 54-year-old Plank was driving to work in the 8400 block of South Stony Island when he heard gunfire and realized he'd been hit in the upper torso, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Police said the bullet entered Plank's vehicle through the passenger door.

Plank, of the 9000 block of South Parkside in Oak Lawn, was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead at 3:11 p.m., authorities said. An autopsy Thursday ruled his death a homicide.

A 17-year-old girl who was walking in the area suffered a graze wound to the right calf, police said. She was taken to Comer Children's Hospital, where she was treated and released.

Neither Plank nor the teen are thought to be the intended targets of the shooting, police said Thursday afternoon. Police initially thought Plank was shot during a "possible road rage incident," but that proved not to be the case. It was not clear who was being targeted in the shooting.

The suspect may have been driving or shooting from a white, four-door car, police said. Area South detectives are conducting a homicide investigation.

--Chicago Sun-Times Wire