Guvonni Johnson | Homicide Watch Chicago

Man gets 55 years for fatally shooting Guvanni Johnson, his fiance's brother, during argument that started over bus card

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 16:11:12 -0600

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago SUn-Times Wire

Eric Hamilton | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.

A man has been sentenced to 55 years in prison for fatally shooting Guvonni Johnson, his fiance’s brother, during a fight two years ago in the South Side Washington Park neighborhood.

Eric Hamilton, 48, was found guilty of murder on Sept. 14 after a two-day bench trial before Judge Kevin Sheehan, according to Cook County court records.

On Dec. 8, 2014, Hamilton and his fiance had just returned to their home in the 6100 block of South Wabash Avenue when her brother, the 25-year-old Johnson, asked to use her bus card and an argument began, prosecutors said at Hamilton's bond hearing.

Hamilton thought Johnson disrespected his fiance and got involved in the dispute, prosecutors said. He eventually called 911, but when responding officers learned the dispute was not physical, they “left after taking some information.”

After police left, Hamilton and Johnson continued to argue, and Hamilton’s fiance told the pair to go outside, where the argument escalated into a fight, prosecutors said. Johnson eventually got into his vehicle and drove around the block, but Hamilton followed in a second vehicle.

Guvonni Johnson | Facebook

A maintenance worker saw both men park their vehicles at Wabash, and Hamilton walk towards Johnson’s vehicle, prosecutors said. Hamilton then tried to break the passenger-side window of Johnson’s vehicle.

Johnson got out and started to run away, but Hamilton pulled a handgun and shot him, prosecutors said. When Johnson to fell to the street, Hamilton bent over him and shot him three more times.

Johnson, 25, who lived in the home with his sister, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died the next day, authorities said.

After the shooting, Hamilton ran to the back of his fiance’s home, knocked on the window, told her he was sorry, then ran away, prosecutors said.

Hamilton has three previous misdemeanor convictions, including a 1988 case where he was sentenced to a year of supervision for unlawful use of a weapon, according to court records.

His lawyer claimed that before the fight, Johnson was hitting and kicking Hamilton, who wrestled for the gun inside the home and was acting in self-defense.

Judge Sheehan sentenced Hamilton to 55 years in prison Monday, according to court records. He will receive credit for 733 days served in the Cook County Jail, and will have to serve three years of supervised release.

He was booked into the Stateville Correctional Center to begin serving his sentence Tuesday.

UPDATE: Eric Hamilton fatally shot fiance's brother during fight, prosecutors say

Michael Lansu — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 14:20:04 -0600

Eric Hamilton / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

A 47-year-old south suburban man was ordered held without bond Monday after prosecutors claimed he fatally shot his fiance's brother during a Dec. 8 fight in the Washington Park community.

Eric Hamilton and his fiance had just returned to their home in the 6100 block of South Wabash Avenue when his fiance's brother, 25-year-old Guvanni Johnson, asked to use her bus card and an argument ensued, said Assistant State's Attorney Beth Novy.

Hamilton thought Johnson disrespected his fiance and became involved in the dispute, Novy said.

Hamilton eventually called 911 and when responding officers learned the dispute was not physical they "left after taking some information," Novy said.

After police left, Hamilton and Johnson continued to argue and Hamilton's fiance told the pair to go outside, where the argument escalated into a fight, Novy said.

Johnson eventually got into his vehicle and drove around the block, but Hamilton followed in a second vehicle, Novy said.

A maintenance worker saw both men park their vehicles on Wabash Avenue and Hamilton walk towards Johnson while he was still behind the wheel. Novy said. Hamilton then tried to break the passenger side window of Johnson's vehicle, prosecutors said.

Johnson then got out of the vehicle and started to run away, but Hamilton pulled a handgun and shot him, Novy said.

When Johnson to fell to the street, Hamilton bend over him and shot him three more times, Novy said.

Scene where Guvonni Johnson was shot / Photo by Brian Jackson

Johnson, 25, who lived in the home with his sister, was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he died the next day, authorities said.

After the shooting, Hamilton ran to the back of his fiance's home, knocked on the window, told her he was sorry then fled, Novy said.

Hamilton, of the 800 block of West Westwood Drive in Glenwood, was arrested Wednesday and later charged with first-degree murder, authorities said. He has three previous misdemeanor convictions, including a 1988 case where he was sentenced to one year of supervision for unlawful use of a weapon, according to court records.

Hamilton's lawyer claimed that before the fight Johnson was hitting and kicking Hamilton, who wrestled for the gun inside the home and was acting in self-defense.

His lawyer noted Hamilton has eight children, six of whom are grown and two who he still supports, and is a supervisor for a company.

Judge James Brown ordered Hamilton held without bond and issued a next court date of Jan. 5.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Seven killed throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 09:08:38 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Seven people died violent deaths throughout Chicago last week.

Three of the killings happened over the weekend, when at least 29 other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened when 15-year-old Demario Bailey was shot in the 0-100 block of West 63rd Street about 12:40 p.m. Saturday as he and his twin brother made their way toward Johnson College Prep to play basketball, according to police and the boy’s aunt, Michelle Fitzpatrick.

Police said four people walked up, announced the robbery and one of the robbers shot Demario.

Demario, of the 7500 block of South Wabash Avenue, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He would have turned 16 on Tuesday, family said.

“Some guys came upon him and tried to rob him of his jacket,” Fitzpatrick said. “Our nephew wouldn’t give up his coat, and they shot him in chest.”

On Sunday, authorities announced that 17-year-old Carlos Johnson was charged as an adult with first-degree murder, armed robbery with a firearm and attempted armed robbery with a firearm. The boy is expected to appear in court for a bond hearing later Monday.

On Friday, 28-year-old Rolando Leon was inside a vehicle in the 1300 block of North Springfield Avenue in the Humboldt Park community when at least one person walked up and shot him in the head about 7 p.m., authorities said.

Leon, of the 1200 block of North Springfield Avenue, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office. A child inside the vehicle was not injured, police said.

In the Roseland neighborhood, 27-year-old Tyrece L. Stornes was outside his home in the 10400 block of South State Street when a gunman opened fire from a passing vehicle about 5 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Stornes was shot in the chest and died at the scene, authorities said.

On Thursday, 51-year-old Timothy W. Quirk was stabbed in the neck during a domestic argument in the 2200 block of West Farwell Avenue in the West Ridge community about 6:15 a.m., authorities said.

Quirk, who lived on the block, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office, which ruled the death a homicide.

On Tuesday, 21-year-old Leonardo Matias was struck in the head during a drive-by shooting in the 1100 block of West Wilson Avenue in the Uptown neighborhood about 10 a.m., authorities said.

Matias, of the 2300 block of North Mango Avenue, was initially taken in critical condition to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was declared dead at 11:01 a.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

The shooting happened across the street from Truman College and police do not believe Matias was the intended target.

On Monday, police found 19-year-old Guillermo Ocampo shot multiple times on a sidewalk in the 900 block of North Central Park Avenue in the Humboldt Park community about 4:50 p.m., authorities said.

Ocampo, who lived on the block, died less than an hour later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the medical examiner's office.

The killing started when 25-year-old Guovanni Johnson was shot during a domestic fight outside his home in the 6100 block of South Wabash Avenue about 11:10 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

Johnson was shot in the head and chest and died Tuesday at Stroger Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Eric Hamilton, 46, of the 800 block of West Westwood Drive in Glenwood, was arrested for the killing on Wednesday and later charged with first-degree murder, authorities said. He is scheduled to appear in court for a bond hearing later Monday.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 417 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including 16 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.

Eric Hamilton charged with murder in Washington Park shooting death of Guvonni Johnson

Michael Lansu — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 13:59:42 -0600

Eric Hamilton / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

A south suburban man has been charged with murder for his alleged role in a domestic shooting that killed Guvonni Johnson Monday morning in the Washington Park community.

Authorities said Johnson got into an argument outside his home in the 6100 block of South Wabash Avenue about 11:10 a.m. Monday. The man he was arguing with then pulled out a handgun and shot Johnson in the head and chest, authorities said.

Johnson, 25, was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he died the next day, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Police initially described the shooting as "domestic related" and said detectives have identified a suspect.

Eric Hamilton, 46, of the 800 block of West Westwood Drive in Glenwood, was arrested Wednesday and later charged with first-degree murder, authorities said.

Hamilton was scheduled to appear in court for a Friday bond hearing, but was unable to attend because he was hospitalized with "heart attack symptoms," a Chicago Police officer said in court. Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesel ordered Hamilton held without bond until he can appear before a judge for a bond hearing, which was rescheduled for Monday.

-- Contributing: Sun-Times Media Wire

Guvonni Johnson killed in domestic shooting in Washington Park neighborhood

Michael Lansu — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 16:37:09 -0600

Scene where Guvonni Johnson was shot / Photo by Brian Jackson

Guvonni Johnson was fatally shot during a domestic fight in the Washington Park neighborhood Monday morning.

Johnson, 25, got into an argument outside his home in the 6100 block of South Wabash Avenue about 11:10 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

During the argument, the other man pulled out a handgun and shot Johnson in the head and chest, authorities said.

Johnson was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he died at 4:24 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Police have identified the 25-year-old shooter, but he is not in custody.

Area Central detectives are investigating.