Elmer Brown | Homicide Watch Chicagohttp://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/elmer-brown/Latest news about Elmer Brownen-usThu, 25 Sep 2014 13:29:13 -0500Third man charged with murder in shooting death of retired Chicago Police Sgt. Elmer Brownhttp://homicides.suntimes.com/2014/09/25/third-man-charged-with-murder-in-shooting-death-of-retired-chicago-police-sgt-elmer-brown/<p><img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2014/09/HeislerNicholas.jpg" alt="Nicholas Heisler / Photo from Chicago Police" width="100%" height="auto" class="size-full wp-image-8241" /><br /> Nicholas Heisler / Photo from Chicago Police</p> <p>BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN<br /> Chicago Sun-Times</p> <p>A third man from Indiana was ordered held without bond Thursday for his alleged role in the murder of a retired Chicago Police sergeant last spring.</p> <p>Like his alleged cohorts, 20-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/suspects/nicholas-heisler/">Nicholas Heisler</a>, of Hammond, Ind., is facing murder and home invasion charges for the March 10 incident that led to 73-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/elmer-brown/">Elmer Brown</a>'s death.</p> <p><a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/suspects/jeremy-mendez/">Jeremy Mendez</a>, 16, of Whiting, Ind., and <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/suspects/jesse-kazmierski/">Jesse Kazmierski</a>, 18, of Hammond, Ind., are currently being held without bond in Cook County Jail.</p> <p>Believing Brown and his wife had a lot of money in a safe, the three drove from Indiana to Chicago hoping to get their hands on the loot, said Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini.<br /> <span id="more-8240"></span><br /> The trio ended up taking some money, a rifle and knife from the home, Santini said.</p> <p>Brown, who was shot once in the face at his home at East 115th Street and South Avenue G, died two weeks later.</p> <p><iframe src="http://homicides.suntimes.com/api/v1/homicides/504.html" width="100%" height="350" frameborder=0></iframe></p> <p>The 38-year Chicago Police veteran’s wife had been lying face down on the ground when she heard a gunshot, Santini said.</p> <p>When the 72-year-old woman looked up, she saw her husband lying in the hallway.</p> <p>The assailant holding the weapon allegedly told Brown’s wife, “Keep your head down bitch or I’ll f––---- blow your head off too.”</p> <p>Prosecutors said it was unclear who pulled the trigger because Heisler, Mendez and Kazmierski had their sweatshirts pulled tightly around their faces during the crime.</p> <p>The couple was watching television when Heisler, Mendez and Kazmierski rang the doorbell, Santini said.</p> <p>“Help, we need help,” one of the three allegedly said.</p> <p>Brown’s wife was opening the screen door when Kazmierski and Mendez pushed their way inside, knocking the elderly woman to the floor, Santini said. Heisler remained on the porch when Brown's wife was pushed down, Santini said.</p> <p>They demanded to know where the safe was and Brown told them it was located upstairs, Santini said.</p> <p>After ransacking the home, the three fled to Indiana with the Brown's property, Santini said.</p> <p>Heisler, who gave a statement to detectives, had told someone about the group's plan and tried to recruit that person to join them, Santini said. He also allegedly admitted to sharing the proceeds of the robbery.</p> <p>Heisler is a father of one and has another child on its way, an assistant public defender said. </p> Michael LansuThu, 25 Sep 2014 13:29:13 -0500http://homicides.suntimes.com/2014/09/25/third-man-charged-with-murder-in-shooting-death-of-retired-chicago-police-sgt-elmer-brown/Elmer BrownNicholas HeislerJesse KazmierskiJeremy MendezJeremy Mendez, 16, held without bond in murder of retired Chicago Police sergeanthttp://homicides.suntimes.com/2014/09/17/jeremy-mendez-16-held-without-bond-in-murder-of-retired-chicago-police-sergeant/<img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2014/03/Elmer-Brown-239x300.jpeg" alt="Elmer Brown / Photo from Chicago Police" width="239" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-4914" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Elmer Brown / Photo from Chicago Police</p> <p>BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN<br /> Chicago Sun-Times</p> <p>A 16-year-old Indiana boy was ordered held without bond Wednesday for his alleged role in the murder of an elderly retired Chicago Police sergeant.</p> <p>While his mother sat next to him, <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/suspects/jeremy-mendez/">Jeremy Mendez</a> admitted to detectives that he forced himself into 73-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/elmer-brown/">Elmer Brown</a>’s home the night of the incident last spring, Cook County prosecutors said.</p> <p><a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/suspects/jesse-kazmierski/">Jesse Kazmierski</a>, of Hammond, Ind., was charged with the deadly home invasion earlier this month. He also is being held without bond and is awaiting trial at Cook County Jail.</p> <p>Believing Brown and his wife had a lot of money in a safe, Mendez, Kazmierski and another cohort drove from Indiana to Chicago on March 10 hoping to get their hands on the loot, authorities said.<br /> <span id="more-8117"></span><br /> <iframe src="http://homicides.suntimes.com/api/v1/homicides/504.html" width="100%" height="350" frameborder=0></iframe></p> <p>But they ended up leaving without the cash, instead fleeing with the Browns’ other property, including a handgun and a knife, Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini said.</p> <p>Brown, who was shot once in the face at his home near East 115th Street and South Avenue G, died two weeks later.</p> <p>The 38-year Chicago Police veteran’s wife had been lying face down on the ground when she heard a gunshot, Santini said.</p> <p>When the 72-year-old woman looked up, she saw her husband lying in the hallway.</p> <p>The assailant holding the weapon allegedly told Brown’s wife, “Keep your head down bitch or I’ll f––---- blow your head off too.”</p> <p>Prosecutors said it was unclear who pulled the trigger because Mendez and Kazmierski, 18, made their way inside the residence with sweatshirts pulled tightly around their faces.<img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2014/09/Kazmierski-Jesse-240x300.jpg" alt="Jesse Kazmierski / Photo from Chicago Police" width="240" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-7934" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Jesse Kazmierski / Photo from Chicago Police</p></p> <p>The couple was watching television when Mendez and Kazmierski rang the doorbell, Santini said.</p> <p>“Help, we need help,” one of the two allegedly said.</p> <p>Brown’s wife was opening the screen door when Kazmierski and Mendez pushed their way inside, knocking the elderly woman to the floor, Santini said.</p> <p>They demanded to know where the safe was and Brown told them it was located upstairs, Santini said.</p> <p>However, the suspect who ransacked the home ended up coming downstairs, telling the other, “I can’t get it, Let’s get out of here,” Santini said.</p> <p>The trio fled back to Indiana after the crime, Santini said.</p> <p>Once there Mendez, of Whiting, Ind., told someone what he had done, Santini said.</p> <p>Mendez, like Kazmierski, is facing murder and home invasion charges. He has been as an adult.</p> <p>Chicago Police officials said Wednesday they are waiting to extradite the third suspect from Indiana.</p> <p>Brown’s wife, Mary Ann, told the Sun-Times in March that her spouse was “a wonderful father and husband.”</p> Michael LansuWed, 17 Sep 2014 14:45:21 -0500http://homicides.suntimes.com/2014/09/17/jeremy-mendez-16-held-without-bond-in-murder-of-retired-chicago-police-sergeant/Elmer BrownJesse KazmierskiJeremy MendezJesse Kazmierski charged with murder in shooting death of retired Chicago Police Sgt. Elmer Brownhttp://homicides.suntimes.com/2014/09/04/jesse-kazmierski-charged-with-murder-in-shooting-death-of-retired-chicago-police-sgt-elmer-brown/<img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2014/09/Kazmierski-Jesse-240x300.jpg" alt="Jesse Kazmierski / Photo from Chicago Police" width="240" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-7934" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Jesse Kazmierski / Photo from Chicago Police</p> <p>BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN<br /> Chicago Sun-Times</p> <p>After <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/suspects/jesse-kazmierski/">Jesse Kazmierski</a> and two others robbed a retired Chicago Police sergeant during a deadly home invasion on the Far South Side, he admitted “We did something stupid,” Cook County prosecutors said.</p> <p>Believing 73-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/elmer-brown/">Elmer Brown</a> and his wife had a lot of money in a safe, the three drove from Indiana to Chicago on March 10 hoping to get their hands on the loot.</p> <p>But they ended up leaving without the cash, instead fleeing with the Browns’ other property, including a handgun and a knife, Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini said.<br /> <span id="more-7933"></span><br /> Brown, who was shot once in the face during the incident near East 115th Street and South Avenue G, died two weeks later.</p> <p>The 38-year Chicago Police veteran’s wife had been lying face down on the ground when she heard a gunshot, Santini said.</p> <p>When she looked up, she saw her husband lying in the hallway.</p> <p>The assailant holding the weapon allegedly told the 72-year-old woman, “Keep your head down bitch or I’ll f------ blow your head off too.”</p> <p>Prosecutors said it was unclear who pulled the trigger because Kazmierski, 18, and the other suspect made their way inside the residence with sweatshirts pulled tightly around their faces.</p> <p>There was no mention during Kazmierski’s Thursday bond hearing if and how the Browns knew him.</p> <p>The couple was watching television when Kazmierski and one of his cohorts rang the doorbell last spring, Santini said.</p> <p>“Help, we need help,” one allegedly said.</p> <p>Brown’s wife was opening the screen door when Kazmierski and the other suspect pushed their way inside, knocking the elderly woman to the floor, Santini said.</p> <p>They demanded to know where the safe was and Brown told them it was located upstairs, Santini said.</p> <p>However, the suspect who ransacked the home ended up coming downstairs, telling the other, “I can’t get it, Let’s get out of here,” Santini said.</p> <p>The trio fled back to Indiana after the crime, Santini said. That’s where Kazmierski allegedly came clean.</p> <p>Kazmierski gave the knife that was taken from the Browns’ home to the person he told about the crime, Santini said.</p> <p>The knife has since been recovered from the Hammond, Ind. man’s home.</p> <p>Judge James Brown ordered Kazmierski -- who allegedly confessed to detectives -- held without bond for murder and home invasion.</p> <p>The two others have not been charged.</p> <p>Brown’s wife, Mary Ann, could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.</p> <p>In March, she told the Sun-Times that her spouse was “a wonderful father and husband.”</p> Michael LansuThu, 04 Sep 2014 15:35:31 -0500http://homicides.suntimes.com/2014/09/04/jesse-kazmierski-charged-with-murder-in-shooting-death-of-retired-chicago-police-sgt-elmer-brown/Elmer BrownJesse KazmierskiPolice offer $15K reward for information in fatal shooting of retired Chicago police officerhttp://homicides.suntimes.com/2014/03/28/police-offer-15k-reward-for-information-in-fatal-shooting-of-retired-chicago-police-officer/<a href="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2014/03/Elmer-Brown.jpeg"><img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2014/03/Elmer-Brown-239x300.jpeg" alt="Elmer Brown / Photo from Chicago Police" width="239" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-4914" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Elmer Brown / Photo from Chicago Police</p> <p>Police are offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information about two people who shot retired Chicago Police sergeant Elmer Brown during a home invasion earlier this month, leading to his death two weeks later.</p> <p>On March 10, at about 11:45 p.m., the 73-year-old Brown was shot when two people forced their way into his home near 115th Street and Avenue G, police said.</p> <p><span id="more-4913"></span></p> <p>Mary Ann Brown, his wife, told the Sun-Times the men wore hooded sweatshirts drawn tightly around their faces. One of the men shot Elmer Brown after the two asked about a safe in the home, she said.</p> <p>After 10 minutes of the men ransacking the home, they ran out the house, seemingly empty-handed, she said.</p> <p>Brown was pronounced dead at 3:22 a.m. Monday at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.</p> <p>An autopsy Tuesday found Brown died of complications from a gunshot wound to the face, and listed coronary artery disease and renal failure as secondary causes, the medical examiner’s office said. His death was ruled a homicide.</p> <p>Police on Friday announced a $15,000 reward for information leading to the offenders’ arrests.</p> <p>“He was a wonderful father and husband,” Mary Ann Brown said.</p> <p>Holding back tears, she said her husband — a policeman for 38 years who was legally blind and suffered from diabetes — had been unable to communicate in any way since the attack at the couple’s home.</p> <p>“He was completely out of it,” Brown said. “He was heavily sedated because of where his wounds were.”</p> <p>No one is in custody as Area South detectives investigate. Anyone with information should call detectives at (312) 747-8272.</p> <p>-- Sun-Times Media Wire</p> Chase DiFeliciantonioFri, 28 Mar 2014 15:38:17 -0500http://homicides.suntimes.com/2014/03/28/police-offer-15k-reward-for-information-in-fatal-shooting-of-retired-chicago-police-officer/Elmer BrownRetired cop dies two weeks after home invasion shootinghttp://homicides.suntimes.com/2014/03/26/retired-cop-dies-two-weeks-after-home-invasion-shooting/<p><iframe src="http://homicides.suntimes.com/api/v1/homicides/504.html" width="100%" height="350" frameborder=0></iframe></p> <p>Retired Chicago Police sergeant <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/elmer-brown/">Elmer Brown</a> died Monday, about two weeks after he was shot during a home invasion in the East Side neighborhood on the Southeast Side.</p> <p>Brown was pronounced dead at 3:22 a.m. Monday at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.</p> <p>On March 10, at about 11:45 p.m., the 73-year-old Brown was shot when two suspects forced their way into his home near 115th and Avenue G, and announced a robbery, police said.</p> <p>“He was a wonderful father and husband,” Mary Ann Brown said of her husband.</p> <p>Holding back tears, she said her husband — a policeman for 38 years who was legally blind and suffered from diabetes — had been unable to communicate in any way since the attack at the couple’s home.</p> <p>“He was completely out of it,” Brown said. “He was heavily sedated because of where his wounds were.”</p> <p>Mary Ann Brown told the Sun-Times two men with hooded sweatshirts drawn tight around their faces burst into the couple’s home, and one of the men shot Elmer Brown after the two inquired about a safe in the home.</p> <p>An autopsy Tuesday found Brown died of complications from a gunshot wound to the face, and listed coronary artery disease and renal failure as secondary causes, the medical examiner’s office said. His death was ruled a homicide.</p> <p>After 10 minutes of the men ransacking the home, they ran out the house, seemingly empty-handed, she said.</p> <p>No one is in custody as Area South detectives investigate.</p> <p>--Sun-Times Media Wire</p> Chase DiFeliciantonioWed, 26 Mar 2014 10:20:40 -0500http://homicides.suntimes.com/2014/03/26/retired-cop-dies-two-weeks-after-home-invasion-shooting/Elmer Brown