Davy Easterling | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: Matthew Jackson fatally shot Twista bodyguard during robbery of 'foreign money'

Michael Lansu — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 15:10:46 -0500

Matthew Jackson / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Matthew X. Jackson fatally shot Davy Easterling, a bodyguard for Chicago rapper Twista, during an armed robbery at a South Chicago apartment, prosecutors said.

On Friday, Judge Laura Sullivan ordered Jackson held without bond on murder and armed robbery charges.

On Feb. 20, Easterling was drinking in an apartment with the female tenant and Jackson's girlfriend, said Assistant State's Attorney Beth Novy. The two women eventually got into an argument and Jackson's girlfriend left.

When she returned home she told Jackson about the fight and how she saw Easterling with "foreign money," Novy said. The couple then went back to the woman's apartment, where Jackson allegedly held Easterling at gunpoint and demanded his foreign money.

Jackson shot Easterling in the mouth and chest, then went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife he used to cut Easterling's throat, Novy said. Jackson allegedly took Easterling's belongings and left with the two women.

Jackson stole Easterling's car and three met at Jackson's apartment, where he told his girlfriend and the other woman to find flammable liquids, Novy said. Easterling's car was found burned inside and out "a few blocks" from Jackson's apartment.

Before friends and family knew what had happened to Easterling, Twista took to social media to try and the man he called “a close friend” and bodyguard.

“We are all worried and pray for his safe return,” Twista posted.

Easterling's body was discovered about 6 a.m. the next day when firefighters responded to a blaze in the other woman's apartment in the 8300 block of South Baker Avenue, authorities said.

The fire started in the rear bedroom of the first floor apartment, and firefighters contained the blaze to that unit, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.

Photo from Chicago Fire Department

Easterling, 31, of the 8100 block of South Vernon Avenue, was found dead in the bedroom, authorities said. An autopsy determined he died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

After the murder, Twista posted to social network sites Instagram and Twitter to honor his friend:

#RIP Davy Easterling aka 6'9 I have lost too many good friends to these streets. http://t.co/pX7XOtOvYD

— #BTTB on itunes NOW! (@TWISTAgmg) February 22, 2014

Jackson, 25, of the 8000 block of South Champlain Avenue, is also awaiting trial in Bridgeview for residential burglary and attempted aggravated robbery, according to court documents.

Assistant Public Defender Andrea Webber said Jackson is a graduate of De La Salle High School and attended some college in downstate Carbondale and later at Kennedy King College.

He will be back in court June 24.

Davy Easterling / Photo from Twitter

Matthew Jackson charged with murder in shooting death Twista’s security guard Davy Easterling

LeeAnn Shelton — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 20:22:14 -0500

Matthew Jackson / Photo from Chicago Police

BY LEEANN SHELTON
Sun-Times Media

Matthew X. Jackson has been charged with murder for allegedly shooting rapper Twista’s security guard Davy Easterling in February in the South Chicago neighborhood.

Emergency crews found Easterling, 31, about 6 a.m. Feb. 21 after a fire at a 2 1/2 story apartment building in the 8300 block of South Baker Avenue, authorities said.

The fire started in the rear bedroom, where Easterling was found with gunshot wounds to the throat and chest, authorities said.

Easterling, of the 8100 block of South Vernon Avenue, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy confirmed he died of multiple gunshot wounds and the death was ruled a homicide.

Davy Easterling / Photo from Twitter

Two days before Easterling was found, rapper Twista posted on social media that “a close friend” and security guard was missing.

Police said authorities identified Jackson, 25, as the shooter and charged him with one count each of first-degree murder and armed robbery. Jackson, of the 8000 block of South Champlain Avenue, will appear in court for a bond hearing Thursday.

Comment of the Day: "Instead of blaming music, wouldn't it make more sense to get outside and try to change something in your community?"

Chase DiFeliciantonio — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 17:56:08 -0600

Davy Easterling, a security guard for Chicago rapper Twista, was found shot to death inside a burning South Chicago home Saturday. Reader "K P" posted this about him:

R.I.P. 6'9". I feel sorry for people who still believe that music is what's wrong with society today. Music isn't the blame no more than movies, TV shows and violent video games. Some people have lost respect for life. Some people feel they have nothing to lose. Its easier to take someones life if your value for life is very low. I grew up listening to the same music, watching the same movies and playing the same games. The only difference is that I had a community to raise me. Instead of blaming music, wouldn't it make more sense to get outside and try to change something in your community? Stop blaming and start doing! I volunteer, counsel and mentor youth regularly. They can listen to whatever they want and still grow up the right way. Music can't be the blame for violence no more than guns can. PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE...

WEEK IN REVIEW: Four men shot dead in citywide shootings

Michael Lansu — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 08:58:35 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Four men were fatally shot throughout Chicago last week -- including a security guard for local rapper Twista.

The week began with a 126-hour stretch without a homicide, the longest murder-free stretch of 2014, and ended with four killings since late Thursday.

The most recent killing happened when 32-year-old Michael Redmond was shot multiple times while driving in the 200 block of North Latrobe Avenue about 7:40 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

After being shot, Redmond drove away and crashed into several parked cars in the 5500 block of West Washington Boulevard, authorities said. Investigators found a gun inside the vehicle, police said.

Redmond, of the 6200 block of West Wabansia Avenue, died at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood less than an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

In the Armour Square community, 28-year-old Javan Boyd was driving in the 3700 block of South Princeton Avenue when a gunman approached the passenger's side and opened fire about 4 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Boyd, of the 7400 block of South Chappel Avenue, was shot in the back and legs and less than two hours later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, authorities said.

On Friday, a security guard for rapper Twista was found shot to death in a burning South Chicago area home.

Firefighters responded about 6 a.m. Friday to a blaze at a 2 1/2-story, multi-unit home in the 8300 block of South Baker Avenue and found 31-year-old Davy Easterling dead inside a bedroom with multiple gunshot wounds, authorities said.

An autopsy determined Easterling, of the 8100 block of South Vernon Avenue, died from the gunshots and not the fire, according to the medical examiner's office, which ruled the death a homicide.

The killings started when police found Regimond Maxwell Jr. shot in a stairwell in the 0-100 block of South Mason Avenue about 10:40 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Maxwell, 23, of the 1500 block of South Harding Avenue, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was dead at the scene, authorities said.

Nobody has been charged in any of the murders.

The Cook County medical examiner's office has ruled 41 Chicago deaths in 2014 homicides -- including two people killed by police. Chicago Police, which counts murders different, has ruled at least three of those deaths involuntary manslaughter or justified self-defense.

Rapper Twista's security guard found shot dead inside burning South Chicago home

Michael Lansu — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 22:34:54 -0600

Davy Easterling / Photo from Instagram

Davy Easterling was found shot dead inside a burning South Chicago neighborhood home early Friday.

Firefighters responded about 6 a.m. Friday to a blaze at a 2 1/2-story, multi-unit home in the 8300 block of South Baker Avenue, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said.

Easterling, 31, was found dead in that bedroom with gunshot wounds to the throat and chest, authorities said.

Easterling, of the 8100 block of South Vernon Avenue, was dead at the scene and a Saturday autopsy determined he died from the shooting and not the fire, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

On Saturday, Chicago rapper Twista posted to social network sites Instagram and Twitter, honoring his friend:

#RIP Davy Easterling aka 6'9 I have lost too many good friends to these streets. http://t.co/pX7XOtOvYD

— #BTTB on itunes NOW! (@TWISTAgmg) February 22, 2014

Since Friday, the rapper had been posting “a close friend” and security guard was missing.

“We are all worried and pray for his safe return,” Twista posted shortly after noon on Friday.

The blaze started in the rear bedroom of the first floor apartment, and firefighters contained the fire to that unit, Langford said. The building’s smoke detectors were working and the blaze did not cause any structural damage.

Photo from Chicago Fire Department

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by fire officials and the police Bomb & Arson Section.

Nobody has been charged with Easterling's murder.

Area South detectives continue to investigate the shooting.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire