Dushanti Hassell | Homicide Watch Chicago

Amin Smith charged with murder in Ravenswood shooting death of Dushanti Hassell

Michael Lansu — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 12:14:40 -0500

Amin Smith / Photo from Chicago Police

Amin H. Smith has been charged with murder in the Ravenswood shooting death of Dushanti Hassell this month.

Hassell, 21, was with a group in an alley in the 2200 block of West Winnemac Avenue when gunfire erupted about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Hassell, of the 5700 block of North Kenmore Avenue, was shot in the head and died about three hours later at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Police said a red SUV was seen fleeing the scene.

“It’s horrifying. It’s normally quiet over here. I’ve been here almost 30 years and haven’t had any trouble. At night, it’s so quiet you can hear a pin drop,” area resident Eddie Robinson told DNAinfo Chicago.

Ald. Patrick O’Connor (40th) posted the following about the killing on his Facebook page:

Shooting Near Winnemac Park

As you may have heard, there was a gang-related shooting near Winnemac Park Sunday, March 21st. I have been in contact with the 20th District Police regarding the incident and would like to pass along the information that has been acquired so far.

The shooting took place at roughly 6:30pm on the 2200 block of W. Winnemac Avenue and involved approximately five male Hispanics. The man that was killed resided on North Kenmore Avenue and was part of the P-Stone Nation street gang.

Residents who live near Winnemac Park are encouraged to attend the next area CAPs meeting taking place on Wednesday, March 25th at 7pm at the Ravenswood Evangelical Church, 4900 N. Damen Avenue.

On Friday, police announced Smith, 21, of the 7800 block of South Greenwood Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder and is expected in court for a bond hearing later Friday.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Dushanti Hassell fatally shot in Ravenswood

Michael Lansu — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 11:06:43 -0500

Dushanti Hassell / Photo from Facebook

BY SUN-TIMES STAFF

Dushanti Hassell was killed Sunday night in the Ravenswood neighborhood after a shooting that one alderman called gang related.

Hassell, 21, was with a group in an alley in the 2200 block of West Winnemac Avenue when gunfire erupted about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Police said a red SUV was seen fleeing the scene.

"It's horrifying. It's normally quiet over here. I've been here almost 30 years and haven't had any trouble. At night, it's so quiet you can hear a pin drop," area resident Eddie Robinson told DNAinfo Chicago.

Ald. Patrick O'Connor (40th) posted the following about the killing on his Facebook page:

Shooting Near Winnemac Park

As you may have heard, there was a gang-related shooting near Winnemac Park Sunday, March 21st. I have been in contact with the 20th District Police regarding the incident and would like to pass along the information that has been acquired so far.

The shooting took place at roughly 6:30pm on the 2200 block of W. Winnemac Avenue and involved approximately five male Hispanics. The man that was killed resided on North Kenmore Avenue and was part of the P-Stone Nation street gang.
Residents who live near Winnemac Park are encouraged to attend the next area CAPs meeting taking place on Wednesday, March 25th at 7pm at the Ravenswood Evangelical Church, 4900 N. Damen Avenue.

I will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area North detectives are investigating.

WEEK IN REVIEW: 10 shot dead throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 11:25:42 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Ten people were fatally shot throughout Chicago last week.

Four of the slaying happened over the weekend, when at least 18 other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened when 21-year-old Dushanti Hassell was shot in the head in the 2200 block of West Winnemac Avenue about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Hassell, of the 5700 block of North Kenmore Avenue, died about three hours later at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

On Saturday, 23-year-old Delia Colunga was a passenger in a vehicle when she was shot in the head near East 109th Street and South Green Bay Avenue on the East Side about 7:05 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Colunga, of the 600 block of East 65th Street, died Sunday morning at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the medical examiner's office.

In the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, police found 30-year-old Alexander Colon shot in the chest on a back porch in the 8800 block of South Wood Street about 12:30 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Colon, who lived on the block, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner's office.

On Friday, 21-year-old Terrell Foster was wounded during a drive-by shooting in the 8100 block of South Houston Avenue in the South Chicago neighborhood about 4:30 p.m., authorities said.

On Thursday, emergency personnel found 24-year-old Fabian Echevarria shot in the head inside a vehicle in the 900 block of North Mozart Street in the Humboldt Park community about 8 p.m., authorities said.

Echevarria, who lived on the block, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

In the Ashburn community, 24-year-old Joseph Burdine was shot shot several times in the back in the 7900 block of South Kedzie Avenue about 11:10 a.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Burdine, of the 8000 block of South Troy Street, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

In the Austin community, 30-year-old James White was shot at a gas station in the 100 block of South Cicero Avenue about 2 a.m. Thursday, authorities said.

White, of the 100 block of North Kostner Avenue, was unresponsive when paramedics arrived and was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

In the Chatham neighborhood, police found 43-year-old Juan Warrior shot multiple times in the 8100 block of South Normal Avenue about 12:30 a.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Warrior, 43, of the 6500 block of South Wolcott Avenue, died at the scene, authorities said.

The killings started when 35-year-old Deonta Jackson and 41-year-old Elijah Moore were shot outside the Dolphin Chicago nightclub in the 2200 block of North Ashland Avenue in Bucktown about 3:10 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

Police said club security kicked out a group of men for fighting just before the gunfire erupted.

Jackson, of the 600 block of West 115th Street, and Moore, 7700 block of South Bishop Street, both died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. A 26-year-old man was also wounded, but survived, police said.

Additionally, the death of 79-year-old Margaret Noble was ruled a homicide after she died Saturday after being injured in a March 8 first at her East Garfield Park home in the 300 block of South Albany Avenue, authorities said.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 73 Chicago deaths in 2015 a homicide.