Gentiles Williamson | Homicide Watch Chicago

Comment of the Day: "Six years of college ... down the sewer along with his blood"

Will Hager — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 16:35:24 -0600

Gentiles Williamson was killed in November during an East Garfield Park shooting. Reader "timmy" posted this about him:

I saw on the news that the young man killed killed had just finished Pharmacy School. Had his terminal degree (Pharm D.) was walking into a $80K + /year job on day one. Six years of college (it is an intense program) down the sewer along with his blood. A good life taken away by a mutt who could care less.
This is exactly why people who do get an education, get out with their lives (if they're lucky) and the heck with staying in the neighborhood and trying to make it better.
Until the city has the political will to eradicate the gang and thug culture, Chicago will continue to be both the shining city on the lake in the middle of the forbidding asphalt jungle.

Mark Harbin charged in murder of Gentiles Williamson

Safiya Merchant — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 17:36:25 -0600

Mark Harbin / Photo from Chicago Police

A parolee was ordered held on $600,000 bond Wednesday, accused in an East Garfield Park shooting in November in which a man was fatally shot in front of his father.

Gentiles Williamson was shot about 1:30 p.m. Nov. 30, after two armed men confronted him and his father as they got into a car near their home in the 3100 block of West Arthington Street, prosecutors claim.

Mark Harbin allegedly brandished a gun at the father, who was in the driver’s seat, while the other armed suspect approached Williams on the passenger’s side of the car, Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Dibler said during a bond hearing Wednesday.

Harbin, 23, of the 6600 block of South Perry Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder, Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton said.

The second suspect, who has not yet been arrested, said something to Williamson before firing three shots at him, Dibler said.

The 27-year-old suffered three gunshot wounds to the chest, and was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

A video recording captured Harbin and the other suspect fleeing in a car registered to Harbin’s girlfriend, Dibler said.

Harbin was on parole at the time of the attack, serving a four-year sentence from a 2012 conviction for possessing a stolen motor vehicle, Dibler said. During a parole check Nov. 9, authorities allegedly found a 9mm handgun in his bedroom.

Ballistics test later determined the gun was the same one used to fatally shoot Williamson, Dibler said. Harbin was also positively identified in a photo array lineup.

Judge Israel Desierto ordered Harbin held on $600,000 bond Wednesday.

He will next appear in court for a preliminary hearing Dec. 30, Simonton said.

--Sun-Times Media Wire

WEEK IN REVIEW: Five murdered throughout Chicago last week

Michael Lansu — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 08:46:13 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Five people were killed in murders throughout the city last week.

The most recent murder happened when police found 24-year-old Sherod Nesbitt lying on the ground in the 11100 block of South Vernon Avenue about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, authorities said. Nesbitt, of the 11100 block of South Longwood Drive, was shot in the head multiple times and died less than an hour later Roseland Community Hospital.

In the East Garfield Park neighborhood, two men approached 27-year-old Gentiles Williamson near his home in the 3100 block of West Arthington Street and one of the men shot him in the chest three times at 12:37 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

On the Northwest Side, police found 39-year-old Maria Gonzalez in the street near her home in the 4800 block of North Moody Avenue about 5 a.m. Thursday, authorities said. An autopsy determined she died of multiple stab and incised wounds, and police are investigating if the killing was domestic-related.

In the Rogers Park neighborhood, police found 30-year-old Mark Villanueva dead in an alley in the 7500 block of North Greenview Avenue, authorities said. Villanueva, of the 7600 block of North Bosworth Avenue, was shot in the face and chest and was dead on the scene.

In the East Garfield Park community, 32-year-old LaChris Hendricks was killed in an alleged shootout in the 2900 block of West Jackson Boulevard about 12:15 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

Hendricks, of the 1200 block of West 48th Court, and a 30-year-old man allegedly shot each other, authorities said. Police found Hendricks in the street near South Sacramento Boulevard and West Adams Street with gunshot wounds to the chest, arm and hand.

The other man was shot in the right leg and treated at Mount Sinai Hospital, police said. No charges have been filed in the exchange of gunfire.

Chicago Police reported 380 murders through November, a 20 percent decrease in murders from the same time period in 2012.

Gentiles Williamson shot dead near West Garfield Park home

Michael Lansu — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 23:53:59 -0600

Gentiles Williamson was fatally shot near his West Garfield Park home Saturday afternoon.

Two men in their late teens approached Williamson, 27, in the 3100 block of West Arthington Street and one of the men shot him three times in the chest at 12:37 p.m., authorities said.

The suspects ran to a gray vehicle and fled east on Arthington Street, police said.

Williamson, who lived on the block, died at 1:07 p.m. at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire