Elijah Johnson | Homicide Watch Chicago

Murdered Aurora Flyers track coach "had a tremendous impact on the community"

Michael Lansu — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 15:50:39 -0600

Elijah Johnson / Photo from Aurora Beacon-News

BY WILL HAGER
Homicide Watch Chicago

Even after his athletes competed, the track meet was far from over for Aurora Flyers long jump coach Elijah Johnson.

Johnson was known for helping opposing athletes and offering technical advice to competitors, Flyers head coach Tom Boatright said.

Johnson, 50, was fatally shot about 8:15 p.m. Dec. 26 in the 1600 block of South Central Park Avenue, authorities said. Johnson, of Oswego, answered the front door of a West Side home and two men attempted to force their way inside to see a girl.

A fight ensued, and one of the men shot Johnson in the chest, authorities said. He died a short time later at Mount Sinai Hospital.

The men fled after the shooting and have not yet been captured and charged.

Track coaches from across the nation flooded Boatright with their condolences after receiving word of Johnson’s death. Johnson worked as the Flyers long jump coach for more than 17 years.

“I’ll remember his smile, caring for athletes, being a better human being. He always talked to the athletes about coming back after they leave and giving back to the community,” Boatright said.

Johnson was born in Vicksburg, Miss., and later moved to the Chicago area. He graduated from East Aurora High School in 1981 and still holds the school triple jump record.

Boatright described Johnson as a pillar in the community who worked a variety of handyman jobs in addition to coaching.

Lance Wallace said Johnson he prepared athletes to be successful on and off the track.

“In the African-American community, economic empowerment is vital to improving the quality of life,” Wallace said. “[Johnson] had a tremendous impact on the community because he helped students increase their earning capability by getting them into college and jobs and mentoring them.”

About 1,000 people attended Johnson’s standing room only funeral, Wallace said. The turnout reflected Johnson’s active presence in the community.

Johnson leaves behind his wife Jacqueline; daughters Sharlinda and Shaque; and his father, Charlie.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Nine murdered in attacks throughout the city

Michael Lansu — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 08:55:13 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Eight people were shot to death and one man was beaten and dismembered in murders throughout the city last week.

Charges have been filed in three of the four killings.

On Saturday, 23-year-old Craig Williams was shot to death while walking in the 4500 block of South Indiana Avenue about 4:10 a.m., authorities said.

Two males exited a sedan and shot Williams several times, authorities said. Williams, who lived on the block, ran to a nearby vacant lot, where he collapsed and died.

On Friday, police found 31-year-old Jernale Richardson was shot in the 5900 block of West Midway Park about 3:50 a.m., authorities said. Richardson, of the 5100 block of West Ohio Street, was shot in the chest and head and was dead on the scene.

Shaughnessy Simms Jr. was charged with first-degree murder in Richardson's death.

On Thursday, 50-year-old Elijah Johnson was killed during a home invasion in the 1600 block of South Central Park Avenue about 8:15 p.m., authorities said.

Johnson answered the door and got into a fight when two men tried to force their way inside to see a girl, authorities said. One of the men shot Johnson in the chest and the pair ran away.

Johnson, of the 400 block of Stonewater Lane in Oswego, died at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

On the West Side, Dennis Glover was shot to death while walking with his girlfriend on a sidewalk near his home in the 700 block of South Kilbourn Avenue, authorities said.

Two people approached the couple and shot Glover in the chest about 8:15 p.m. Thursday, authorities said. The shooters fled in an SUV.

Glover was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:46 p.m. Thursday, according to the medical examiner’s office. His girlfriend was not injured, police said.

On Wednesday, Alexis Valdez">Alexis Valdez attacked 41-year-old Silvestre Diaz-Hernandez in an apartment in the 2500 block of North Kildare Avenue about 2 a.m., prosecutors said.

Valdez, 18, of the 5000 block of West Drummond Place, was charged with one count of first-degree murder for allegedly beating Diaz-Hernandez to death with a hammer then dismembering his body, authorities said.

Prosecutors claim Valdez lived in the home with his aunt, who asked him to move out. An angry Valdez attacked his aunt's boyfriend, Diaz-Hernandez, to get even, prosecutors said.

On the South Side, Eric Hunt was shot and killed in the 1200 block of West 73rd Place about 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, authorities said. Hunt, of the 4300 block of South Calumet Avenue, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County about 8:30 a.m., according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Monday, 22-year-old Alexander Rodriguez was shot in the chest, leg and abdomen area in the 2300 block of North Ridgeway Avenue about 7:40 p.m., authorities said.

Rodriguez died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center at 8:32 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office.

In the West Pullman neighborhood, 19-year-old Natasha Green and a 23-year-old man were shot in the 11700 block of South Eggleston Avenue about 12:35 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Green, of the 11700 block of South Normal Avenue, was shot in the head died at Roseland Community Hospital less than an hour later, authorities said.

The 23-year-old man was shot in the leg and survived, police said.

In the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, 23-year-old Christopher Lang was walking in the 3400 block of West 72nd Place about midnight Monday he was shot in the abdomen area, authorities said.

Lang, of the 3500 block of West 72nd Place, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 3:22 a.m. Monday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Daquon E. Renfro, 19, and Antonio Cox, 20, were each charged with murder in Lang's death, authorities said. The men approached Lang and asked to buy marijuana then shot him during an attempted robbery, prosecutors said.

Elijah Johnson, 50, killed in West Side home invasion

Michael Lansu — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 13:08:16 -0600

A 50-year-old was killed in a Thursday night home invasion on the West Side.

Two men knocked on the door of a residence in the 1600 block of South Central Park Avenue looking for a girl inside about 8:15 p.m., police said.

Elijah Johnson, 50, answered the door and got into a fight when the two men tried to force their way inside, authorities said.

Police said one of the men then shot Johnson in the chest before they ran away.

Johnson, of the 400 block of Stonewater Lane in Oswego, died at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the medical examiner's office.

Area Central detectives investigate.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire