WEEK IN REVIEW: At least 9 die from gun violence, including 3-year-old accidentally shot by 6-year-old

Jeff Mayes — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 16:00:33 -0500

By JEFF MAYES
Chicago Sun-Times Wire
At least 9 people were killed in gun violence last week in Chicago, including a 3-year-old boy who died after being accidentally shot by his 6-year-old brother while playing cops and robbers with their dad's illegal gun.

Michael Santiago told a judge he bought the gun to protect himself after the former gang member was tagged with a “snitch” label for testifying at the murder trial of another gang member. But Santiago’s 6-year-old son got his hands on the gun and accidentally shot his brother while the toddler ate a bowl of macaroni and cheese, Cook County prosecutors said at Santiago's bond hearing.

Santiago said he warned his elder son that the Smith & Wesson .32-caliber revolver—bundled in pajamas atop the refrigerator in the family’s garden apartment in Humboldt Park—was to be handled “only by adults,” but the boy got the weapon and shot his brother, Eian H. Santiago, in the head just after 9 p.m. Saturday, prosecutors said. Police said the older boy was playing cops and robbers.

A family member carried Eian to Norwegian American Hospital. He was later transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died at 11:48 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy ruled his death a homicide.

Santiago, 25, admitted he bought the gun off the street, and had no carry permit or FOID card, prosecutors said. He was charged with felony child endangerment causing death, and ordered held on a $75,000 bond.

Two people were shot—one fatally—in the Gresham neighborhood Sunday afternoon.

Brianna Jenkins, 19, and a 20-year-old man were sitting in a car about 4:30 p.m. in the 7800 block of South Honore when someone walked up and opened fire, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Jenkins, of the 2100 block of West 69th Street, was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Friends drove the man to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where his condition stabilized.

About 2:05 a.m. Sunday, 22-year-old Dwayne Richardson was killed and another man wounded in a Roseland neighborhood shooting.

The men were in a vehicle pulling away from the curb in the 10500 block of South Prairie when a male walked up and opened fire, Chicago Police said.

The vehicle sped away and eventually crashed into a tree in the 10500 block of South Prairie, police said.

The driver, Richardson, was shot in the upper back and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The 19-year-old man sitting in the passenger seat was shot in the left knee and was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where his condition was stabilized, police said.

David Thomas was shot and killed in a drive-by attack Friday morning on a Chicago Public Schools Safe Passage route in Englewood.

The 32-year-old Thomas was walking in the 6000 block of South Aberdeen when someone fired at him from a passing gray vehicle about 7:30 a.m., according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Shot four times, he was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:51 a.m., authorities said. Thomas’ home address was unknown Friday afternoon.

A man found shot to death in Chatham early Friday was identified as Dameon Williams.

Williams, 28, got into an altercation with another male, who shot him in the head in the 8300 block of South Evans a few minutes after 1 a.m., according to police and the medical examiner's office. The suspect ran away after the shooting.

Officers found Williams dead at the scene, authorities said.

Eighteen-year-old Michael Fenner Jr. was killed and a 16-yer-old boy wounded in a Washington Heights neighborhood drive-by shooting late Wednesday.

About 11 p.m., Fenner and the younger teen were on a sidewalk in the 9700 block of South Peoria when someone opened fire from an SUV, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Fenner was shot in the chest and abdomen, and was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. He lived in the 9400 block of South Justine.

The younger boy was shot in the leg and was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Oak Lawn, where his condition stabilized, police said.

Henry R. Hayes was fatally shot in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood on Wednesday evening.

The 22-year-old was standing outside in the 7700 block of South Indiana Avenue at 5:20 p.m. when someone walked up and shot him several times in the chest, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Hayes, who lived nearby in the 300 block of East 77th Street, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man was killed and a woman injured in a Chatham neighborhood shooting Tuesday night.

Tracey Morgan, 25, was sitting in a vehicle with a 56-year-old woman in the 8200 block of South Lafayette about 8:30 p.m. when another vehicle approached and someone inside opened fire, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Morgan, of the 7800 bock of South Hoyne, was shot in the abdomen and the woman was shot in the arm, authorities said.

Both were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where Morgan was pronounced dead at 9:27 p.m., authorities said. The woman’s condition was stabilized.

Juan Cardenas of Blue Island died early Monday after being dropped off at a Near West Side hospital with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

About 3:05 a.m. Monday, acquaintances dropped the 28-year-old off at Rush University Medical Center at 1653 W. Congress Pkwy., according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Cardenas, of the 2700 block of Grunewald Street in Blue Island, was later transferred to Stroger Hospital, where he died at 5:02 a.m., authorities said.

Area Central detectives are investigating, but have not yet determined where the shooting took place.

David Thomas fatally shot along CPS Safe Passage Route in Englewood

Jeff Mayes — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 23:01:51 -0500

By STEFANO ESPOSITO and LUKE WILUSZ
Chicago Sun-Times

Police tape at 60th and Carpenter where one Safe Passage worker reported hearing "six or seven shots." | Stefano Esposito/Sun-Times

David Thomas was shot and killed in a drive-by attack Friday morning on a Chicago Public Schools Safe Passage route in Englewood.

The 32-year-old Thomas was walking in the 6000 block of South Aberdeen when someone fired at him from a passing gray vehicle about 7:30 a.m., according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Shot four times, he was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:51 a.m., authorities said. Thomas’ home address was unknown Friday afternoon.

One Safe Passage worker said no schoolchildren were present at the time of the shooting. Another Safe Passage worker reported hearing “six or seven” shots. Neither would provide their names.

A woman who lives at 60th and Carpenter, a block to the east, said she was about to make some scrambled eggs when she heard gunshots. The woman, who didn’t want her name used, ran outside to find a man lying in the road at 60th and Aberdeen. He was calling out for help, the woman said.

“He raised his head one time and tried to say something, but he couldn’t get it out,” the woman said. “When he raised his head, he fell back down and he raised it no more.”

The woman said the man had a number of bullet wounds in his back. She also said she’d seen him in the neighborhood previously, although she said he didn’t live there.

“He works,” she said. “He has a job.”

She added that she could not remember the last time there had been a shooting in the area; she and her neighbors generally feel safe, she said.

Safe Passage workers in their day-glow green vests stood on 60th Street, watching police at the scene. The workers were not eager to talk, although one said she’d heard six or seven gunshots just prior to the fatal shooting. Detectives could be seen going door to door in the vicinity of the shooting.

According to CPS, the corner of 60th and Aberdeen is along a Chicago Public Schools Safe Passage Route to Nicholson STEM Academy at 6006 S. Peoria St., about three blocks to the east. Langford Community Academy at 6010 S. Throop St. is about four blocks to the west.

David Thomas | Homicide Watch Chicago

WEEK IN REVIEW: At least 9 die from gun violence, including 3-year-old accidentally shot by 6-year-old

David Thomas fatally shot along CPS Safe Passage Route in Englewood