Genorel Martin | Homicide Watch Chicago

Girlfriend: Genorel Martin enjoyed reading, writing

Michael Lansu — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 12:12:07 -0600

Genorel Martin / Photo from Facebook

BY KALEY FOWLER
For Homicide Watch Chicago

Genorel Martin believed in seizing the moment -- so much so that he had the phrase “Carpe diem” tattooed on his back.

“He always saw the upside and he really was always optimistic,” said his girlfriend, Vyvyan Wesley. “He was always ready for new adventures and new challenges. ”

Martin, 24, was fatally shot Oct. 18 as he opened the door to his apartment building in the 6700 block of South Throop Street in Englewood, authorities said.

Martin was born and raised in Englewood and wanted to better the community, Wesley said.

“He was in a lot of trouble as a youth, did the jail thing and all of that, and his goal was to not see others end up on that path,” Wesley said. “Rebuilding our community was really important to him. He knew what it was like to be a product of that environment and always said, ‘I don’t want our brothers and sisters to go through those things.’ He wanted to let other people know there is another way.”

Wesley, 24, described Martin as an intelligent person who loved to read and write. He especially enjoyed reading The Holy Bible and the works of authors Cornell West and Robert Green, she said.

Martin was clever with words and enjoyed writing poetry and freestyle rapping, Wesley said.

His favorite rapper was Tupac Shakur, whose intellect he idolized, Wesley said.

Prior to the shooting, Wesley and Martin discussed getting married, she said.

“Looking back, it’s almost as if he knew, even though he didn’t. He said, ‘Vyv, I love you so much you mean the world to me I can’t wait for us to take the next step in our lives,’" Wesley said. "I’m grateful that he left me on that note rather than us arguing or not speaking to each other. I’m grateful that we had that chance to say our last ‘I love yous’ -- a lot of people don’t get that.”

Nobody has been charged for the murder. Area South detectives are investigating.

Comment of the Day: "He was only expecting to open his door and be at home, but instead someone was plotting against him"

Michael Lansu — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 16:09:51 -0500

Genorel Martin, 24, was fatally shot Oct. 18 as he attempted to enter his West Englewood apartment building. Reader "Greg" posted this about the killing:

Poor fella, it's sad because he was only expecting to open his door and be at home, but instead someone was plotting against him, but the one that is doing the plotting will have his day. (Psalms 37:12,13)

WEEK IN REVIEW: Six killed in Chicago violence

Michael Lansu — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 08:59:55 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Four people were shot to death, one man was fatally stabbed and another was beaten and strangled last week in Chicago.

Three of the six murder victims were fatally shot over the weekend, when at least 19 other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened when 18-year-old Alexandria Burgos was shot in the head while sitting in an apartment in the 5300 block of West Oakdale Avenue when gunfire erupted outside about 12:35 a.m., authorities said.

Burgos, of an unidentified home address, died less than an hour later at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

On Saturday, 24-year-old Genorel Martin was opening the door to his apartment building in the 6700 block of South Throop Street in West Englewood when a gunman approached about 1 a.m. and fatally shot him near the vestibule, authorities said.

In the Roseland neighborhood, police found 21-year-old Travis L. Wright shot to death in the backseat of a car outside his home in the 9300 block of South Wentworth Avenue about 12:25 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

On Thursday, prosecutors claim 29-year-old Erika Jett fatally stabbed her boyfriend, 30-year-old Rodney Wilson, during a domestic fight in the 5100 block of West Fulton Street, authorities said.

Wilson, of an unidentified home address, died about an hour later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the medical examiner's office.

Jett was charged with murder and was ordered held on $500,000 bond.

In the South Shore neighborhood, 25-year-old Alexander D. Smith was shot in the 7500 block of South Colfax Avenue about 2:45 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Smith, of an unidentified home address, was shot multiple times and was dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office. A 14-year-old boy was also wounded but survived.

The killing started when a janitor found the body of 45-year-old homeless man Joseph Kaman in a garbage bin at Northwestern Business College in in the 4800 block of North Lipps about 11:45 a.m Tuesday, authorities said.

Prosecutors claim Jake Tate, 27, Todd Cooper, 35, and Daniel Morris, 20, beat, strangled and sodomized Kaman because Tate thought he had stolen his cell phone.

Additionally, 55-year-old ArrowStream CEO Steven LaVoie died last Monday after being shot July 31 in the 200 block of South LaSalle, authorities said. Police said recently demoted employee Tony DeFrances shot LaVoie then turned the gun on himself.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 349 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including 13 people killed by police.

Chicago Police, which counts murders different by following federal guidelines, have ruled some of those homicides as involuntary manslaughter, justified self-defense or accidents.

Genorel Martin fatally shot in West Englewood

Michael Lansu — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 18:10:38 -0500

Genorel Martin was fatally shot in the West Englewood neighborhood early Saturday.

Martin, 24, was opening the door to his apartment building in the 6700 block of South Throop Street when a gunman approached about 1 a.m. and shot him near the vestibule, authorities said.

Martin died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire