UPDATE: Eddie Murphy remembered at Austin home

Michael Lansu — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 19:24:45 -0500

BY SAFIYA MERCHANT
Homicide Watch Chicago

Nearly a week after Eddie Murphy was gunned down on a Humboldt Park street, his mother still listens to a voicemail from her son.

Police found Murphy dead with multiple gunshot wounds to the head on a sidewalk in the 600 block of North Springfield Avenue about 12:30 a.m. Oct. 9, authorities said. Police said Murphy had gang affiliations.

“RIP EDDIE” was spray painted on the sidewalk near Murphy’s home in the 5400 block of West Iowa Street. His mother, Tarinda Henderson, used her feet to scrape away wet leaves from the graffiti Tuesday afternoon.

Inside Murphy’s home, a bright light bulb illuminated dozens of family photographs on the walls. Outside, plastic garbage bags protected a memorial of posters and stuffed animals from the rain.

Henderson cried as she remembered her son. She said Murphy, who just turned 21 in August, was always asking her for a few dollars -- even after she gave him some.

“He always wanted more, he couldn’t accept what he got,” Henderson said.

Cousin Tyries Henderson, 20, sat at his grandmother’s table and reminisced about Murphy. The pair were close growing up.

“Once you meet Eddie, you’ll never forget him,” said cousin Tyries Henderson.

Murphy often spoke loudly to make his presence known, Tyries Henderson said.

Family members said he had a criminal history. Tarinda Henderson said her son was changing his life -- he had just registered for classes at Malcolm X College and got a job.

“He said, ‘Mama I’m doing right, I’m finna get it together,’” Tarinda Henderson said.

Tarinda Henderson said she warned her son, who had a young daughter, that the street can be a dangerous place.

“I tried to get him off the street … One time I stood outside and screaming, begging him, crying, telling him, ‘Don’t be out here,’” Tarinda Henderson said.

“And the guys would tell him, ‘Man, yo momma love you,’” she said.

Murphy is the first young member of the family to die a violent death, family said.

“[We’re] not used to kids dying …Usually, when people in our family die … they’ll be like 70-something,” Tyries Henderson said.

“We waited 21 years just to see my cousin die?,” he said.

-- Contributing: Jessica Koscielniak

Photography by Jessica Koscielniak

Man shot to death in Humboldt Park

Sun-Times Media Wire — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 10:35:13 -0500

An Austin neighborhood man found dead on a Humboldt Park sidewalk early Wednesday died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Police on patrol heard gunshots about 12:30 a.m. and found the victim dead on a sidewalk in the 600 block of North Springfield Avenue a short time later, police said.

Eddie Murphy, 21, of the 5400 block of West Iowa Street was pronounced dead on the scene about 20 minutes later, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Murphy died of multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Area North detectives are investigating.

Eddie Murphy | Homicide Watch Chicago

UPDATE: Eddie Murphy remembered at Austin home

Man shot to death in Humboldt Park