Giovanni Matos | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: Antwan Elliott asked group about gang affiliation, fatally shot Giovanni Matos in Portage Park

Michael Lansu — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 15:24:37 -0500

Antwan Elliott / Photo from Chicago Police

BY LEEANN SHELTON
Sun-Times Media

Antwan Elliott was ordered held without bond Tuesday after prosecutors claimed he fatally shot 16-year-old Giovanni Matos last week in the Portage Park neighborhood.

Matos was walking with two friends in the 5800 block of West Patterson Avenue when a vehicle pulled up about 1 p.m. March 15 and Elliot got out and asked the three about their gang affiliation, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors claimed Matos and his two acquaintances were gang members, and when they told Elliott their gang affiliations he opened fire on them.

Elliott continued shooting at the group even as they attempted to ran away, prosecutors said.

Matos, of the 5500 block of West Henderson Street, was shot in the head and back and died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, authorities said.

One of Matos’ friends recognized Elliott, who prosecutors claimed is in a different gang, and gave police his nickname to police, prosecutors said.

The friend also recognized the defendant in a photo lineup, according to prosecutors who said officers recovered shell casings from the scene.

Giovanni Matos / Photo from Facebook

Officers arrested Elliott Saturday after they smelled marijuana and stopped the vehicle in which he was riding in the 2600 block of North Laramie Avenue, authorities said.

After the stop, Elliott attempted to run away, but police captured him and found a gun in his waistband, prosecutors said.

Elliott, 21, of the 1600 block of North Oak Park, was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a firearm without a valid FOID card, police said.

On Tuesday, Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. ordered held Elliott held without bond and issued a next court date of April 10.

Antwan Elliott charged with murder in Portage Park shooting death of Giovanni Matos

Michael Lansu — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 22:15:12 -0500

Antwan Elliott / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Antwan Elliott was charged with murder Monday in the shooting death of 16-year-old Giovanni Matos this month in the Portage Park neighborhood, police said.

Matos was walking with two friends in the 5800 block of West Patterson Avenue when a gray car pulled up and an argument ensued about 12:50 p.m. March 15, authorities said.

Gang slogans were exchanged during the argument, then Elliott exited the car and opened fire, police said.

Matos, of the 5500 block of West Henderson Street, was shot in the head and died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center hours later, authorities said.

Matos’ friends ran away and were not injured, authorities said.

After the shooting, the gunman got back into the car, which sped away, police said.

Giovanni Matos / Photo from Facebook

Officers arrested Elliott Saturday when they learned he was in possession of a handgun during a traffic stop in the 2600 block of North Laramie Avenue, police said.

On Monday, Elliott was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a firearm without a FOID card, police said.

Elliott, 21, of the 1600 block of North Oak Park Avenue, is expected to appear in court Tuesday for a bond hearing.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Eight killed throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 09:02:30 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Six men were fatally shot, one man was stabbed to death and a baby had her neck slashed with a saw in slayings throughout Chicago last week.

Four of the slayings happened over the weekend, when at least 24 other people were shot and wounded.

The most recent killings happened when 23-year-old Andre Chatman and 28-year-old Carey Hollis were shot while in a car in the 5800 block of West North Avenue in the Austin community about 3:45 p.m. Sunday, police said.

After the shooting, the wounded driver continued east and crashed about a block away, police said.

Chatham and Hollis, who both lived in the 1000 block of North Mayfield Avenue, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

In the Portage Park neighborhood, 16-year-old Giovanni Matos was shot in the head in the 5800 block of West Patterson Avenue during an argument with a group in a passing vehicle about 12:50 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Matos, of the 5500 block of West Henderson Street, died hours later at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center hours later, according to the medical examiner's office.

In the Albany Park neighborhood, 19-year-old Talal Aljohani was found stabbed to death in his apartment in the 5000 block of North Harding Avenue about 4 a.m. Sunday, authorities said. Police called the attack domestic related.

On Monday, police found 26-year-old Larry Hardin Jr. shot on a sidewalk in the 9200 block of South Ada Street in the Washington Heights community about 7:35 p.m., authorities said.

Hardwin, of the 1400 block of East 90th Street, was shot in the head and died at the scene, authorities said.

In the Roseland community, 77-year-old Odell Branch was fatally shot in the 200 block of West 105th Street about 6:30 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Branch was watching TV with his 5-year-old great-grandson when bullets came through a window, authorities said.

Branch was shot in the head and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, authorities said. The 5-year-old was shot in the arm and also taken to Christ Medical Center, police said.

Branch’s granddaughter and 2-year-old great-granddaughter were also wounded as they attempted to enter a vehicle when the gunfire erupted, police said.

Nobody has been charged for the killing, but on Sunday police released surveillance video of the potential suspects.

In the Uptown neighborhood, 20-year-old Troy Phelon was shot in the chest in the 900 block of West Agatite Avenue about 2:55 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Phelon, of the 300 block of South Kedzie Avenue, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The killing started when 52-year-old Manuela Rodriguez killed her 7-month-old granddaughter, Rose Herrera, in the 2800 block of South Avers Avenue in the Little Village neighborhood about 9:30 a.m. Monday, prosecutors said.

Rodriguez allegedly stuffed a sock deep down her 7-month-old granddaughter’s throat, bashed the infant’s head with a metal pipe wrench and used a motorized circular saw to slash the baby’s neck, chest and shoulder, prosecutors said.

Rodriguez, who cut her own throat, allegedly admitted to paramedics and detectives that she viciously attacked Rose Herrera because she wanted her to stop crying while she babysat, prosecutors said. She was charged with first-degree murder and was ordered held without bond.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 60 Chicago deaths in 2015 a homicide.

Giovanni Matos, 16, fatally shot in Portage Park

Michael Lansu — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 08:08:06 -0500

A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot in the Portage Park neighborhood Sunday afternoon.

Giovanni Matos was walking with two friends in the 5800 block of West Patterson Avenue when a gray car pulled up and an argument ensued about 12:50 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

During the argument, a gunman exited the car and opened fire, police said.

Matos, of the 5500 block of West Henderson Street, was shot in the head and died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center hours later, authorities said.

Matos' friends ran away and were not injured, authorities said.

After the shooting, the gunman got back into the car, which drove away, police said.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area North detectives are investigating the shooting as gang related after reports that gang slogans were yelled during the argument, police said.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire