Devonshay Lofton | Homicide Watch Chicago

Quinton Evans charged with murder in shooting death of Jesse White Tumbler Devonshay Lofton

Michael Lansu — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 13:12:20 -0500

Quinton Evans / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A 19-year-old South Side man was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bond Wednesday for allegedly shooting a teenage Jesse White Tumbler to death last week in the Old Town neighborhood.

Quinton Evans and his uncharged cohort were on their bicycles when they opened fire toward Devonshay Lofton and his friends, who were hanging out in the 1300 block of North Cleveland Avenue Thursday night, said Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Colleen Rogers.

Devonshay, of the 1300 block of North Hudson Avenue, was shot in the chest and died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, authorities said.

An officer on patrol heard the gunshots and was told by witnesses which direction the gunmen fled, Rogers said. That officer put out a flash message and another officer was able to chase Evans and his friends as they jumped off their bicycles and ran, Rogers said.

The second officer saw Evans pull a handgun from his waist area before he jumped under a SUV, Rogers said.

As the officer got out of his vehicle, he accidentally shot himself in the foot and the gunmen were able to escape, Rogers said.

A semi-automatic handgun recovered from the under the SUV where Evans was seen matched the casings left at the crime scene, Rogers said.

Evans was arrested for trespassing Monday in an unrelated incident. He was later identified by witnesses as one of Devonshay’s killers, authorities said.

Evans, of the 7900 block of South Stony Island Avenue, also faces misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass to state land and criminal trespass to real property.

Secretary of State Jesse White, who founded the tumbling team, said last week that Lofton, a Lincoln Park High student, had been a member of the team for about five years.

“He was a nice young man,” White said. “He was a gentleman in every way. He was well liked and highly respected.”

Devonshay “loved tumbling” and had performed at events throughout the Chicago area, White said. “It’s a sad day for us.”

Evans, who an assistant public defender said volunteered at a church, was discharged from parole in January for a 2012 weapons conviction.

He was found delinquent three times as a juvenile for robbery in 2008 and 2009. Evans was also found delinquent for an aggravated battery case in 2008.

-- Contributing: Michael Lansu

Comment of the Day: "It's sad a young man ... was killed for having enough respect for his girlfriend to walk her home"

Michael Lansu — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 16:39:18 -0500

Jesse White Tumbling Team member Devonshay Martin, 16, was fatally shot Thursday night in the Old Town neighborhood. Reader "Rachel" posted this about him:

I remember him as quiet and respectful just the other day he told me he saw me downtown It's sad a young man who I remember as a little boy was killed for having enough respect for his girlfriend to walk her home may he rest in peace

WEEK IN REVIEW: Nine dead in Chicago slayings

Michael Lansu — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 09:03:43 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Nine people were killed in shootings and stabbings throughout Chicago last week.

Two of the murders happened over the weekend, when at least 30 others were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened when 21-year-old Davontae Harrison motorist was shot in the chest in the 3900 block of West Ferdinand Street in the Humboldt Park area about 6:50 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

He kept driving until police were flagged down in the 3300 block of West Chicago Avenue, police said.

Harrison, of the 600 block of North Troy Street, died less than an hour later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

In the West Garfield Park neighborhood, police found 16-year-old Cortez Rivers shot multiple times in the 4000 block of West Jackson Boulevard about 4:15 a.m. Saturday.

Rivers, of the 5200 block of West Quincy Street, died at Loretto Hospital about 30 minutes later, according to the medical examiner's office.

On Friday, 21-year-old Dimitre Beck was stabbed in the 7300 block of South Halsted Street and tried to rob him about 10 p.m., authorities said.

Police said Beck was part of a group that attempted to rob a man and was stabbed during the ensuing struggle.

Beck, of the 7300 block of South Peoria Street, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 2:46 a.m. Saturday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy ruled the death a homicide, but police called the attack self-defense.

In Englewood, 19-year-old Markise Darling was shot in the abdomen, buttocks and thigh in the 1600 block of West 61st Street about 2 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Darling, who lived on the block, was taken to Christ Medical Center, where he died at 6:16 p.m. Saturday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Thursday, 18-year-old Kamaal Burton was walking near East 133rd Street and South Langley Avenue when two males walked up and opened fire, authorities said.

Burton, of an unidentified home address, was shot in the chest and died at the scene, authorities said.

In the Old Town neighborhood, 16-year-old Jesse White Tumbling Team member Devonshay Lofton was in the 1300 block of North Cleveland Avenue when a gunman on a bicycle opened fire about 9:20 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Devonshay, of the 1300 block of North Hudson Avenue, was shot and later died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

On Wednesday, 19-year-old Justin Mercado was standing on a sidewalk in the 5000 block of West Wrightwood Avenue in the Belmont Cragin community when gunfire erupted about 10:50 p.m., authorities said.

Marcado, who lived on the block, was shot in the abdomen and died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center at 1:04 a.m. Thursday, authorities said. A 17-year-old boy was shot in both legs but survived, police said.

In Englewood, 19-year-old Kawantis Montgomery was in the 6100 block of South Carpenter Street when a gunman in a passing vehicle shot him about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Montgomery, of an unidentified home address, was shot in the chest and shoulder and died at Christ Medical Center less than two hours later, authorities said.

The killing started when 22-year-old Christopher McGee was shot in the chest in the 4500 block of North Magnolia Avenue in Uptown about 10:55 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

McGee, of the 4400 block of North Magnolia Avenue, died at Illinois Masonic Medical Center at 12:06 p.m. Monday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Nobody has been charged in any of the killings.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 313 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including 12 people killed by police.

Chicago Police, which counts murders different, have ruled some of those homicides as involuntary manslaughter, justified self-defense or accidents.

Tumbler Devonshay Lofton, 16, fatally shot in Old Town

Michael Lansu — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 14:44:51 -0500

Scene where Devonshay Lofton was shot / Photo from NVP News Video

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

A 16-year-old member of the internationally known Jesse White Tumbling Team was shot to death Thursday night in the Old Town neighborhood.

Devonshay Lofton was in the 1300 block of North Cleveland Avenue when a gunman on a bicycle opened fire about 9:20 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Devonshay, of the 1300 block of North Hudson Avenue, was hit and later died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Secretary of State Jesse White, who founded the tumbling team, said the Lincoln Park High School student had been a member of the squad for about five years.

“He was a nice young man,” White said. “He was a gentleman in every way. He was well liked and highly respected.”

Devonshay “loved tumbling” and had performed at events throughout the Chicago area, White said.

“When his name would not appear … indicating his turn for an appearance, he would always call me. I would tell him, ‘Next time I’ll put your name on the list so you will get a chance to use your skills in a manner where you can always be proud,’” White said.

“It’s a sad day for us,” he added.

Devonshay had not performed since July 4.

Devonshay was walking his girlfriend home when he was shot, family friend Carlisle Lopez told DNAinfo Chicago.

After the shooting, a police officer responding to the scene was injured when his gun discharged as he exited a vehicle, police said. The officer suffered a gunshot wound to the foot and was in good condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Contributing: Sun-Times Media Wire