Prosecutor: Woman killed Ireal Mitchell because he slapped her stepson on a basketball court in West Garfield Park

Jeff Mayes — Fri, 11 Nov 2016 09:08:51 -0600

By RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Sirena Crosby | Chicago Police

A West Side woman gunned down Ireal C. Mitchell in a drive-by shooting because he had slapped her stepson on the basketball courts, Cook County prosecutors said Thursday.

Sirena Crosby’s stepson came home Aug. 8 and told her that Mitchell hit him after a verbal altercation near Polk Street and Springfield Avenue, prosecutors said in court.

So Crosby went to the basketball courts and confronted Mitchell, 22, Assistant State’s Attorney Bryan Grissman said.

But she wasn’t finished, according to authorities.

Crosby went back to her home in the 400 block of North Springfield and allegedly told a man to get a gun. The pair got in Crosby’s silver Chevrolet Malibu and drove around looking for Mitchell, Grissman said.

Crosby, 38, was behind the wheel and drove around the basketball court several times before she saw Mitchell in the 800 block of South Springfield, Grissman said.

Ireal C. Mitchell | Facebook

She reached out of the driver’s side window and fired several times when Mitchell crossed the street in front of her vehicle, Grissman said.

Then Crosby and her cohort drove away, Grissman said.

Crosby was charged with murder, and Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. ordered her held in on a $3 million bond.

Mitchell, of the 4000 block of West 5th Avenue, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy found he died of gunshot wounds to the torso and right upper arm.

Surveillance footage captured the shooting from the Malibu, Grissman said. Several witnesses also saw Crosby confront Mitchell and saw her driving the car.

Others also heard Crosby telling the male co-offender to get the weapon and heard her saying that Mitchell was going to die, Grissman said.

WEEK IN REVIEW: At least 28 dead, including U.S. Army veteran and police officer's son, in deadliest week of 2016

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 16:00:35 -0500

By JEFF MAYES
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Sun-Times file photo

It started with the single deadliest day in Chicago in 13 years, and ended with a tragic weekend in which the victims included a U.S. Army veteran and the son of a Chicago Police officer.

By the time it was over, at least 28 people were killed in Chicago violence last week.

The week got off to a violent start with nine people shot to death on Monday, the single highest death toll in the city for one day since July 5, 2003.

And with at least nine more people shot over a weekend that saw more than 60 people shot, it ended up the bloodiest week in Chicago this year, bringing the 2016 homicide total to at least 440.

The son of a Chicago Police officer was killed and another man wounded in a shooting early Sunday in the Wrightwood neighborhood. Arshell Dennis III, 19, was a journalism student at St. John's University in New York City who was home for his mother's birthday and planning to return to school on Sunday.

But early Saturday, Dennis and a 20-year-old man were sitting outside the Dennis home in the 2900 block of West 82nd Street a few minutes after midnight. A male approached and started shooting, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Dennis, the son of Officer Arshell (Chico) Dennis Jr., was shot in the chest and pronounced dead at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, authorities said. The 20-year-old was shot in the arm and chest, and was taken to Christ Medical Center in serious condition.
A 23-year-old U.S. Army veteran man was shot to death in the West Elsdon neighborhood early Saturday. Abner Garcia was driving south in the 5200 block of South Pulaski about 1:40 a.m. when a van pulled alongside and someone inside flashed gang signs, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.
The two began arguing until someone in the van opened a door and shot Garcia in the head, authorities said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died four hours later.
The week's final homicide was a man found shot to death Sunday morning in the Park Manor neighborhood. Officers responding to a call of a person down about 9:05 a.m. in the 6700 block of South Wabash found 21-year-old Anthony Nelson with multiple gunshot wounds, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the last of several fatal shootings in Austin last week, a 24-year-old man was shot to death early Sunday. Officers responding at 5:11 a.m. to a call of a person down in the 5200 block of West Ferdinand found Ladrell Brown lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the chest, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A man was fatally shot Sunday morning on the Near West Side. Alfonso R. Kyles, 31, was found on the sidewalk about 3 a.m. just south of the entrance to Touhy-Herbert Park in the 2100 block of West Adams Street, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.
The shooting occurred half a block west of Chicago Bulls College Prep. Kyles suffered a gunshot wound to the head, and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A second man was shot to death early Sunday in Austin. Antoine Johnson, 31, was shot in the back at 2:18 a.m. in the 5000 block of West Van Buren, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died.
A 27-year-old man was killed and a 10-year-old boy wounded in a Saturday afternoon shooting in East Garfield Park. Just after 1 p.m., Yanong Woods was standing outside in the 3800 block of West Madison when a gunman walked up and shot him in the chest, knee and thigh, according to authorities.
He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he later died. A 10-year-old boy was grazed in the shooting and was taken to Stroger in good condition, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
Two people were shot, one fatally, in the Humboldt Park neighborhood Friday night. About 11:35 p.m., a 30-year-old man and 26-year-old woman were driving east in the 3300 block of West North Avenue. While they were stopped at a red light, another car pulled up next to them and a suspect shot them, according to police.
Louis Carrasquillo was shot in the head, and the woman in the left leg, according to authorities. Both were taken to Stroger Hospital, where Carrasquillo died at 12:02 a.m. Saturday. The woman’s condition was stabilized, police said.
In the weekend's first fatal shooting, a 17-year-old boy from the south suburbs was killed in Englewood on Friday night. Johnathan L. Stewart was shot in the chest and right leg about 10:15 p.m. in the 700 block of West 66th Place, according to authorities.
Stewart, of Country Club Hills, was taken to St. Bernard Hospital, where he was pronounced dead 15 minutes later, according to the medical examiner’s office.
A man was killed and another wounded in a shooting in the West Englewood neighborhood late Thursday. Johnny J. Butler, 37, was found shot in the head shortly before midnight in a vacant lot in the 6500 block of South Ashland, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.
Butler was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man, 29, was shot in the right leg and was taken to Holy Cross Hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg, police said.
A 22-year-old man was killed and his 6-year-old girl wounded in a shooting Thursday afternoon in Park Manor. They were outside near David McCray’s home in the 6800 block of South Calumet taking part in a water balloon fight when someone walked up and started shooting around 2:30 p.m., according to police and the medical examiner’s office.
McCray was shot in the chest and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died minutes later. The girl suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the head, and was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital. She underwent surgery on Friday to remove the bullet and was expected to make a full recovery.
A man was killed and two other people wounded in a shooting early Thursday in Gresham. Just before 2 a.m., the three were inside a vehicle in the 8000 block of South Marshfield when someone walked up at a stop sign and opened fire, according to police. The shooter then ran away.
Winston Delaney, 50, was shot in the back and forearm, and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died at 2:42 a.m., according to the medical examiner’s office.

A 33-year-old man was shot in the right forearm, and a 59-year-old woman in the hip and back. They were both taken to Stroger Hospital, where their conditions were stabilized, police said.
A man died Wednesday night, one day after he was shot in the Austin neighborhood. Dontae Roberts, 30, was was sitting in a parked vehicle at 10:56 p.m. Tuesday in the 5900 block of West Division when someone exited a vehicle nearby and opened fire, according to authorities.
Roberts was shot in the head, and was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where he was pronounced dead at 8:37 p.m. Wednesday.
A man was fatally shot Wednesday night in the West Pullman neighborhood. Police responding to reports of shots fired at 10:20 p.m. found the 22-year-old lying on a parkway in the 12400 block of South Lowe with a gunshot wound to the head.
Stephan Triplett was taken to Roseland Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.
A woman was shot to death late Wednesday on the Near West Side. About 10 p.m., 22-year-old Jamie Williams was riding in a vehicle in the 200 block of South Oakley when a black four-door Hyundai pulled up alongside, authorities said. A male passenger got out and shot her multiple times in the chest before he ran away and the Hyundai sped off. Williams was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
A man was shot to death Tuesday night in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Cortez Tate, 25, was shot in the head at 8:27 p.m. in the 7300 block of North Rogers, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Tate was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he was died about three hours later.
A man was shot to death Tuesday night in the Roseland neighborhood. About 8:10 p.m., 32-year-old Demarco V. Kennedy was eating dinner in his second-floor apartment in the 600 block of East 102nd Place when he was shot in the neck, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Kennedy was taken to Trinity Hospital, where he died two hours later, authorities said.
A man died after he was shot Tuesday afternoon in the Englewood neighborhood. Julius Coleman, 18, was on the street after getting dropped off from a vehicle at 2:07 p.m. in the 5600 block of South May when someone inside a passing blue vehicle began shooting, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Coleman was shot in the chest and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A North Lawndale man died five days after he was hit with a baseball bat and punched in a fight in the Austin neighborhood. Andre Jackson, 23, was pronounced dead at 5:51 a.m. Tuesday at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office. An autopsy Wednesday found he died of complications from multiple blunt force injuries.
Police were called to a report of a battery at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, in the 4800 block of Quincy. Jackson and a 20-year-old man were driving near Gladys and Kolmar when another vehicle blocked their path. Three people got out of the vehicle and started an argument.

They beat Jackson and the 20-year-old with baseball bats and their fists, police said. Jackson and the other man fled to the 4800 block of West Quincy Street, where they were picked up by paramedics. The 20-year-old was treated for minor injuries.
A man was killed and two others were critically wounded in a Roseland shooting late Monday. The three were standing on the sidewalk at 11:17 p.m. in the 9400 block of South LaSalle when a blue car drove past and someone inside opened fire, according to police.
Anthony Hatchett, 44, was shot in the head, and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

A 28-year-old man who was shot in the back was also taken to Christ, police said. The third man, 30, was taken to Stroger Hospital with gunshot wounds to the right arm and left leg. Both were listed in critical condition.
A man was killed in a West Englewood neighborhood shooting Monday night. Erik L. Williams, 27, was standing on a front porch at 10:18 p.m. in the 1800 block of West 58th when someone in a gray sedan fired shots at him, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.
Williams suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the side of his torso and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.
A man was shot to death Monday night in the Homan Square neighborhood. John Hosey Jr., 28, was driving at 9:24 p.m. in the 3500 block of West Grenshaw when he heard gunfire and felt pain, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Hosey suffered gunshot wounds to the left arm, torso and back and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A man was killed and a teenage boy wounded in a shooting Monday night in West Garfield Park. Cory Hughes, 28, was standing on the sidewalk in the 100 block of South Kilpatrick about 8:45 p.m. when a male walked up and started shooting, according to police and the medical examiner's office.
Hughes was shot multiple times, and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A 17-year-old boy who was driving past the scene was struck in the left ankle, police said. He drove himself to Loretto Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.
A 24-year-old man was shot to death Monday night in the Ashburn neighborhood. Denzell Mickiel was shot in the right arm, left side of the neck, and head about 7:30 p.m. in the 3200 block of West 83rd Street, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.
A 22-year-old man was fatally shot in West Garfield Park on Monday night. Ireal C. Mitchell was in the 800 block of South Springfield at 7:22 p.m. when someone in a gray vehicle shot him multiple times, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.
Mitchell was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy found he died of gunshot wounds to the torso and right upper arm.
A 61-year-old man was shot to death Monday afternoon while sitting on his porch in Chatham. At 1:18 p.m., Michael Lucas was on his front porch in the 9100 block of South Cottage Grove when someone fired shots in his direction, authorities said. Lucas was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said he was not the intended target.
A 25-year-old man was killed while driving in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood early Monday. William Villa was driving a black SUV in the 1100 block of North Western Avenue at 2:27 a.m. when he stopped at a red light at Western and Division, according to police and the medical examiner's office. A dark-colored car pulled alongside his vehicle and someone inside opened fire.
The SUV then pulled forward and crashed into a traffic light in the northeast corner of the intersection. Villa was shot in the head, but three female passengers in the SUV were not injured. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died about half an hour later, according to the medical examiner's office.
A man was shot to death early Monday in East Garfield Park. Officers responding about 2:25 a.m. to a call of a person shot in the 3200 block of West Walnut found the man lying on the sidewalk, according to police.
Lee Martin, 43, had suffered gunshot wounds to the head and back, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ireal Mitchell shot to death in West Garfield Park drive-by

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 11:27:32 -0500

Ireal C. Mitchell was fatally shot Monday evening in a drive-by in the West Garfield Park neighborhood.

The 22-year-old Mitchell was in the 800 block of South Springfield at 7:22 p.m. when someone in a gray vehicle shot him multiple times, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Mitchell, of the 4000 block of West 5th Avenue, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:03 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy found he died of gunshot wounds to the torso and right upper arm, and his death was ruled a homicide.

--Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Ireal C. Mitchell | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutor: Woman killed Ireal Mitchell because he slapped her stepson on a basketball court in West Garfield Park

WEEK IN REVIEW: At least 28 dead, including U.S. Army veteran and police officer's son, in deadliest week of 2016

Ireal Mitchell shot to death in West Garfield Park drive-by