Devorite Diggins | Homicide Watch Chicago

Valton Cooper found not guilty of 2013 slaying of Devorite Diggins in Englewood

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 11:16:46 -0600

Valton Cooper | Chicago Police

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

One of two men charged with a shooting at an Englewood gas station in 2013 that left Devorite Diggins dead has been found not guilty.

Valton Cooper, 25, was acquitted of first-degree murder Thursday after a bench trial before Judge James Orbish, according to Cook County court records. Cooper was charged with the Nov. 13, 2013, murder of the 21-year-old Diggins.

Diggins and his 21-year-old cousin entered the station in the 800 block of West 59th Street about 2:20 p.m. and began talking with an associate of Diggins’ cousin, authorities said.

Trevonti Carson | Cook County sheriff's office

The cousin shook hands multiple times with the associate then the pair attempted to leave the store, but the associate cut them off and the pair ran to the back of the store, authorities said.

A group of males—which prosecutors had alleged included Cooper—then cornered Diggins inside, and Trevonti Carson shot him in the upper back and abdomen area, prosecutors said.

A wounded Diggins called out for his cousin, who was hiding in another part of the store, prosecutors said. The cousin tried to run out of the store but was shot in the right arm.

Diggins, 21, of the 6200 block of South Aberdeen Street, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

His cousin suffered non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

Carson is also charged with murder and is next scheduled to appear in court Jan. 22.

Second man charged with murder for slaying inside Englewood gas station

Michael Lansu — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 16:54:21 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

A second man has been charged with murder for his role in a November shooting that left Devorite Diggins dead inside an Englewood gas station.

Valton Cooper, 25, was charged with one count of first-degree murder, authorities said. He appeared before Judge Donald Panarese in a gray jacket and jeans and was ordered held on $1.5 million bond.

Diggins and his 21-year-old cousin entered the gas station in the 800 block of West 59th Street about 2:20 p.m. Nov. 13 and the pair began talking with an associate of Diggins’ cousin, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Anthony Lucafo said.

The cousin shook hands multiple times with the associate then the pair attempted to leave the store, Lucafo said. But the associate cut them off and the pair ran to the back of the store, Lucafo said.

Cooper, Trevonti Carson and other males then corner Diggins inside, and Carson shot him in the upper back and abdomen area, prosecutors said.

A wounded Diggins called out for his cousin, who was hiding in another part of the store, Lucafo said.

The cousin tried to run out of the store but Cooper grabbed him, Lucafo said. Carson then shot him in the right arm.

Diggins, 21, of the 6200 block of South Aberdeen Street, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

His cousin suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County for treatment, authorities said.

Video surveillance at the gas station captured the shooting, according to the state’s attorney’s office.

Cooper fled to Iowa and cut his hair, Lucafo said. He was arrested Dec. 12 in Dixmoor, Ill., after an investigative alert was issued for him.

Cooper identified himself as the person on the surveillance video, Lucafo said.

Cooper is single and has two children, ages 4 and 5, Assistant Public Defender Steve Stach said. He graduated Harlan High School and attended some classes at a trade school.

Carson has already been charged and is being held without bond, authorities said. A third person was taken into custody in Wisconsin and has not yet appear in court for Diggins murder.

Comment of the Day: "We laugh alot!!!!"

Michael Lansu — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 17:25:25 -0600

Devorite Diggins was shot to death Nov. 13 inside an Englewood gas station. Reader Ingrid posted the following about Diggins:

despite of how people feel vonte diggins was sweet and i spent some time with him!!! we laugh alot!!!! and had so much fun together this was very unnessary and he will truly be missed!!!!!!

UPDATE: Trevonti Carson cornered man in Englewood gas station, shot him dead, prosecutors say

Michael Lansu — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 14:37:54 -0600

Trevonti Carson / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Trevonti Carson cornered a man inside an Englewood gas station and shot him dead last week on the South Side, prosecutors said.

Carson, 26, is accused of murdering Devorite Diggins Nov. 13 inside a gas station in the 800 block of West 59th Street, authorities said.

Diggins and his 21-year-old cousin entered the station about 2:20 p.m. and the pair began talking with an associate of Diggins’ cousin, Cook County assistant state’s attorney Anthony Lucafo said.

Carson and three other males then corner Diggins inside and Carson shot him in the upper back and abdomen area, prosecutors said.

A wounded Diggins called out for his cousin, who was hiding in another part of the store, Lucafo said.

The cousin tried to run out of the store, but Carson shot him in the right arm, Lucafo said. Carson and his associates then fled.

Diggins, 21, of the 6200 block of South Aberdeen Street, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

His cousin suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County for treatment, authorities said.

Video surveillance at the gas station captured the shooting and police issued a warrant for Carson, Lucafo said. Carson was arrested Saturday in Ford Heights and gave a recorded statement about his involvement in the murder.

The other men have not yet been charged for their roles in the shooting.

Carson was on parole for an aggravated unlawful use of a weapon conviction and has previously been on supervision for possession of a gun without a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card, Lucafo said.

On Monday, Carson appeared before Judge James Brown in a white T-shirt, black jacket and blue jeans. Carson, of the 5700 block of South Green Street, was ordered held without bond.

Carson, who has lived in the Chicago area his entire life, works as a barber and construction worker, according to his public defender. He is married and lives with his wife and mother.

Carson will be back in court Dec. 6 at the George N. Leighton Courthouse in the 2600 block of South California Avenue.

Trevonti Carson charged in killing of Devorite Diggins

Michael Lansu — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 09:17:37 -0600

Trevonti Carson / Photo from Chicago Police

Trevonti Carson has been charged with murder for allegedly fatally shooting Devorite Diggins at an Englewood gas station last week, police said.

Carson, 26, is accused of killing Diggins and wounding another man during a shooting last Wednesday at a gas station in the 800 block of West 59th Street, authorities said.

Diggins, 21, of the 6200 block of South Aberdeen Street, was dead on the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. The other man, 21, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Carson, of the 5700 block of South Green Street, was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm, according to police. He is scheduled to appear in bond court later Monday.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

WEEK IN REVIEW: At least six killed in citywide shootings

Michael Lansu — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 09:03:14 -0600

At least six people were murdered throughout the city last week, but none since Thursday night.

The most recent murder happened Thursday night in the Little Village neighborhood when 17-year-old Javier Gonzalez was shot in the head and arm in the 3000 block of South Karlov Avenue about 7:50 p.m., authorities said. Gonzalez, of the 3100 block of South Komensky Avenue, died Friday afternoon at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

About two hours earlier, Amanda Fitch was inside a vehicle at a gas station when she was shot in the 6600 block of South Stony Island Avenue, authorities said. Fitch, 24, of the 4700 block of South Ellis Avenue, died about an hour later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the medical examiner's office.

On Thursday morning, Michael Walker, 35, was shot in a gangway in the 8200 block of South Drexel Avenue about 8:45 a.m. Thursday, authorities said. Walker, 35, of the 8100 block of South Ingleside Avenue, died about an hour later at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Walker was a professional boxer looking to turn his career around, his manager, Damian Walton said. Walker, known in the ring as “The Midnight Stalker,” began boxing professionally in 2004 and won his first 18 fights, according to online boxing records. He began losing in mid-2008 and died with a career record of 19-19.

In Englewood, 21-year-old Devorite Diggins and another man were shot at a gas station in the 5900 block of South Halsted Street about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Diggins, of the 6200 block of South Aberdeen Street, was dead on the scene, authorities said. The other man, 21, was shot in the arm and initially taken in "stable" condition to Stroger Hospital.

Trevonti Carson, 26, of the 5700 block of South Green Street, has been charged with murder in the killing, police said.

In Pilsen, a gunman in a passing van fatally shot 19-year-old Uriel Quinones, of the 2300 block of West 22nd Street, about 11:30 p.m. in the 2200 block of South Oakley Avenue, authorities said.

The shooting started last week when UPS employee Michael Sullivan was shot and killed on his way to work during a robbery in the 4200 block of West Lake Street about 11 p.m. Tuesday, authorities said.

Derrick Williams, 20, and Rayshon Williams, 16, have been charged with murder in Sullivan's death. Prosecutors said the two tried to rob Sullivan and shot him in the face when he walked away.

Additionally, officers found 18-year-old Aaron Hubbard dead in a stairwell in the 5900 block of South Winchester Avenue about 3:30 p.m. Monday, authorities said. Hubbard, of the 6500 block of South Marshfield Avenue, was shot multiple times and the death was ruled a homicide.

Investigators believe Hubbard was kidnapped and was reported missing about a week ago, a police source said. Authorities said Hubbard’s death was related to the death of Corderro Brown, who was found murdered Nov. 3 in a back stairwell 1.5 miles away in the 6500 block of South Bishop Street, authorities said.

Through the same time last year, murders are down 19 percent and shootings are down 24 percent, police said.

Devorite Diggins killed in shooting at Englewood gas station

Michael Lansu — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 19:57:38 -0600

Devorite Diggins was killed during a Wednesday afternoon shooting at an Englewood gas station that left another man wounded.

Diggins and a 21-year-old man were at a gas station in the 800 block of West 59th Street when they were shot about 2:30 p.m., authorities said.

Diggins, 21, of the 6200 block of South Aberdeen Street, declared dead at the scene, authorities said. A Thursday autopsy determined he died of multiple gunshot wounds and the death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

The other man, 21, was shot in the arm and initially taken in “stable” condition to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, police said.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire