Elijah 'Fat Head' Murphy gunned down while pregnant daughter drove him to work in Back of the Yards

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 09:43:18 -0600

By ASHLEE REZIN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Chicago Police investigate in the 4200 block of South Racine, where a man was gunned down while on his way to work Thursday morning. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Elijah Murphy, a father of four who was being driven to work by his pregnant daughter Thursday morning, was shot to death in the Back of The Yards neighborhood on the South Side.

Murphy, known as "Fat Head," was getting out of a vehicle in the 4200 block of South Racine about 4:45 a.m. when someone opened fire from a passing dark SUV, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

He suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the body and head, and was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:12 a.m., authorities said. He lived in the 5700 block of South Bishop.

Family members said the 38-year-old Murphy was being driven to work at a meat packaging facility by his 20-year old pregnant daughter at the time of the shooting.

“He loved being around his family and nothing more,” Cynthia Robinson, Murphy’s 36-year-old sister, said. “He just wanted to be around his family and raise his kids — all four of them — matter of fact he was expecting his first grandbaby real soon.”

Robinson, one of more than a dozen family members and friends who gathered outside the crime scene tape Thursday, said Murphy’s daughter was not injured in the shooting.

“He didn’t deserve nothing like this,” Robinson said. “He’s not even that type of guy. He’s a family man, he works every day. He comes home every day.”

Elijah Murphy | Homicide Watch Chicago

Elijah 'Fat Head' Murphy gunned down while pregnant daughter drove him to work in Back of the Yards