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.

Dimitre Beck fatally stabbed during Englewood robbery

Michael Lansu — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 21:12:18 -0500

Dimitre Beck was fatally stabbed after police said he allegedly tried to rob somebody in the Englewood neighborhood Friday night.

Beck, 21, was with a group who approached a man in the 7300 block of South Halsted Street and tried to rob him about 10 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Witnesses said the group began started to beat the robbery victim when he resisted, police said. The victim pulled out an “edged instrument” -- possibly a knife -- and stabbed Beck.

The other attackers ran away when they saw the weapon, witnesses told police. The victim then fled as well.

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, although police called the attack self defense.

Nobody has been charged.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Dimitre Beck | Homicide Watch Chicago

WEEK IN REVIEW: Nine dead in Chicago slayings

Dimitre Beck fatally stabbed during Englewood robbery