Devante Warnsby | Homicide Watch Chicago

Comment of the Day: "He was like a little brother to me, and it saddens us all to have to say good bye in this way"

Michael Lansu — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 16:15:03 -0500

Devante Warnsby, 21, was fatally shot April 8 in the South Chicago neighborhood. Reader "Sunshine" posted this about him:

Devante Warnsby was a wonderful young man just trying to find his way he has held the same job for the last 16 months he just had started a second job he was waiting for his results from his EMT test he was hoping he had passed so he could start a career he literally always made everyone laugh and smile he didnt deserve this he was like a little brother to me and it saddens us all to have to say good bye in this way love u forever baby boy RIP

Family: Slain Devante Warnsby enjoyed fixing computers

Michael Lansu — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 10:57:33 -0500

Devante Warnsby / Photo from Twitter

BY MATT McCALL
Homicide Watch Chicago

The deacons at Christian Youth Missionary Baptist Church always liked when it was Devante Warnsby’s turn to read scripture, family said.

His mother, Ora Warnsby, said that of her 11 children, Devante Warnsby was the only one who never made trouble.

“He was the only one of the kids that got up and did something when I asked him,” she said. “He was a good child.”

Prosecutors claim Devante Warnsby was walking with a group in the 8400 block of South Essex Avenue when Joseph Hill pulled up and asked if anybody had marijuana about 11 a.m. April 8. When the group said they did not, Hill got out of the car and opened fire, prosecutors said.

Warnsby, 21, of the 8400 block of South Oglesby Avenue, was shot in the back of the head and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn later that night, authorities said.

Ora Warnsby said her son had attended Perspectives Charter -- Calumet, where he was on the football and track teams.

While at the high school, Devante Warnsby developed an interest in computers, his mother said. He learned to repair broken computers in a school workshop and had pursued a degree in computer science at University of Illinois before returning to Chicago two years later.

He was currently working at the deli counter at Mrs. Green’s Natural Market, family said.

“He was a smart boy, he never made any problems,” she said.

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.

Prosecutors: Joseph Hill asked for drugs then fatally shot Devante Warnsby in South Chicago

Michael Lansu — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 14:00:14 -0500

Joseph Hill / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Joseph Hill was ordered held without bond Friday after prosecutors said he fatally shot Devante Warnsby Wednesday morning in the South Chicago neighborhood.

Warnsby, his two adopted brothers and a friend were walking near East 84th Street and South Essex Avenue when a gray Mitsubishi with tinted windows pulled up about 11 a.m. Wednesday, Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Cooper said.

Hill got out of the car and asked the group if anybody had marijuana, Cooper said. When the group replied that they did not, Hill pulled a gun from his waistband and opened fire, she said.

The group attempted to flee into an alley, but Warnsby was shot in the back of the head, Cooper said.

Warnsby, 21, of the 8400 block of South Oglesby Avenue, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn later that night, authorities said.

The other three men were not injured and gave police a description of the vehicle, which sped off after the shooting, Cooper said.

Detectives reviewed recent traffic stops and found a car matching the description, including one from after the shooting, Cooper said.

The witnesses identified the car and shooter in a photo array, and Hill was arrested Thursday, Cooper said.

Hill, 19, was charged with first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.

Hill is currently on bond awaiting trail for an unrelated aggravated unlawful use of a weapon charge, Cooper said. Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil ordered him held without bond on that charge.

Hill is a student at Bowen High School, where he is scheduled to graduate this spring, according to his lawyer. Hill currently works at a Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits and hopes to attend college.

Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil called Hill "a danger to himself and society" and ordered him held without bond.

He will be back in court April 30.

Devante Warnsby fatally shot in South Chicago

Michael Lansu — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 09:00:52 -0500

Devante Warnsby was shot to death in the South Chicago neighborhood Wednesday morning.

Warnsby, 21, was walking in the 8400 block of South Essex Avenue when a gray care pulled up and a gunman inside opened fire at 11:17 a.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Warnsby, of the 8400 block of South Oglesby Avenue, was shot in the head and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 9 p.m., authorities said.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire