Jamal Harmon | Homicide Watch Chicago

Comment of the Day: "How can a person gain their freedom [then] not use their time out of incarceration to make their lives better?"

Michael Lansu — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 16:22:04 -0500

Andre Davis, 53, was charged with murder last week for his alleged role in the October 2013 murder of Jamal Harmon. Davis had spent 32 years in prison for murder and rape before being exonerated by DNA evidence in 2012. Reader Danita Johnson posted this about the case:

If this man is found guilty of this crime, this is such a disappointment. How can a person gain their freedom; then, not use their time out of incarceration to make their lives better? Life is really not that difficult to live. I know that he had to have received funding to get a better start in life other than getting caught up in a murder plan, plot and activity. I am seriously shaking my head at this. Condolences to the victim's family.

Derrick Hilliard charged with murder in 2013 death of Jamal Harmon

Michael Lansu — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 21:09:20 -0500

Derrick Hilliard / Photo from Chicago Police

A second man has been charged with murder in the killing of Jamal Harmon last October on the South Side, police said.

Derrick A. Hilliard, 37, was charged with one count each of first-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, police said.

Hilliard is accused of killing Harmon, 19, on Oct. 7, 2013, authorities. Andre Davis was also charged for the murder this week.

Davis had served 32 years in prison for an unrelated rape and murder before being exonerated by DNA evidence in 2012.

The night of the killing, Harmon attended an Oct. 7, 2013, party hosted by Davis’ nephew in the 6500 block of South Ross Avenue. During the party, Harmon and Davis’ nephew got into an argument outside the home over money lost at a dice game, Mack said.

Davis’ nephew went back inside the house, then came out with a handgun and shot Harmon, Mack said. A witness said Harmon, 19, survived the shooting and was “making sounds,” Mack said.

Davis and the witness then carried Harmon to the trunk of a Cadillac, Mack said, adding that Davis told others he was going to find a spot to dump Harmon and drove off.

Harmon’s body was discovered later that day in an alley in the 7600 block of South Carpenter Street, Mack said. He had been shot three times — in the face, lower neck and left armpit. He had also been stabbed four times, authorities said.

An autopsy confirmed Harmon, of the 6700 block of South Parnell Avenue, died of multiple stab and gunshot wounds, and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The next day, Davis told someone he cut Harmon’s throat, Mack said.

Davis had previously been convicted of murder in 1980 for the August 1980 rape and murder of 3-year-old girl Brianna Stickle in downstate Rantoul. He spent more than 30 years in prison, but his conviction was overturned after new DNA evidence was found.

Andre Davis / Photo from Chicago Police

Prosecutors did not retry Davis, claiming it would have been too hard to bring a 32-year-old case to trial, and and he was released in July 2012.

Along with he 1980 murder conviction, Davis has also previously been charged with attempted murder, aggravated discharge of a weapon, and two counts of aggravated battery, according to court records. He currently faces two misdemeanor counts of DUI.

Hilliard, of the 8300 block of South King Drive, is expected in bond court Saturday. Davis will be back in court July 2.

— Contributing: AP

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Andre Davis, 53, charged with murder in South Side shooting, stabbing death of Jamal Harmon

Michael Lansu — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 16:35:52 -0500

Andre Davis / Photo from Chicago Police

BY JORDAN OWEN
Sun-Times Media

A 53-year-old man who served 32 years in prison for murder and rape before being exonerated by DNA evidence in 2012 now faces new murder charges. Prosecutors accuse him of killing Jamal Harmon last year in a South Side alley.

Andre Davis was charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of felony kidnapping, police said. Davis, of the 8200 block of South Eberhart Avenue, was also wanted on two bond forfeiture warrants.

On Thursday, Davis appeared in court dressed in a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans to face the new murder chargers. Judge Adam Bourgeois ordered him held without bond.

Assistant State's Attorney Robert Mack said the events that led to the killing started when Harmon attended an Oct. 7, 2013, party hosted by Davis' nephew in the 6500 block of South Ross Avenue. During the party, Harmon and Davis' nephew got into an argument outside the home over money lost at a dice game, Mack said.

Davis’ nephew went back inside the house, then came out with a handgun and shot Harmon, Mack said. A witness said Harmon, 19, survived the shooting and was "making sounds," Mack said.

Davis and the witness then carried Harmon to the trunk of a Cadillac, Mack said, adding that Davis told others he was going to find a spot to dump Harmon and drove off.

Harmon’s body was discovered later that day in an alley in the 7600 block of South Carpenter Street, Mack said. He had been shot three times -- in the face, lower neck and left armpit. He had also been stabbed four times, authorities said.

The next day, Davis told someone he cut Harmon’s throat, Mack said.

Prosecutors did not retry Davis, claiming it would have been too hard to bring a 32-year-old case to trial, and and he was released in July 2012.

Davis will be back in court July 2.

-- Contributing: AP

4 dead, 12 wounded during weekend violence

Sun-Times Media Wire — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 10:55:15 -0500

Four men are dead and at least 12 others have been wounded in violence across the city since Friday afternoon.

Police are conducting a homicide investigation after a 19-year-old man was found with at least one stab wound in an alley in the 7600 block of South Carpenter Street about 7:30 a.m. Sunday in the Far South Side Roseland neighborhood.

Jamal Harmon, of the 6700 block of South Parnell Avenue, suffered a laceration to his throat and was pronounced dead on the scene a few minutes after he was found, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Two men were standing outside near East 110th Street and South Vernon Avenue when they were shot by someone in a dark-colored SUV about 10:25 p.m. Saturday in the Far South Side Roseland neighborhood.

Arlanders Watkins, 46, was shot in the head and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died at 11:09 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

The other man, 21, was shot in the neck and taken in critical condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Earlier Saturday, one man was killed and another was wounded when shots were fired in West Pullman, also on the Far South Side.

The two men, both 19, were in the 11700 block of South Morgan Street when a shooter fired upon them about 2:20 p.m., authorities said.

Cory Atwater, who lived on the same block where he was shot, was shot in the head and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died about an hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The other man was shot in the foot, according to police, who said the injury was not life-threatening.

The weekend’s first homicide occurred Friday evening on the West Side, when 36-year-old Louis Wherry was shot to death following an argument with another man in the Austin neighborhood, authorities said.

Authorities said that at about 7:50 p.m. Wherry was in the 400 block of South Central Avenue arguing with his killer, who then pulled out a handgun and fired shots as Wherry tried to run away.

Wherry, who lived blocks from where he was killed, was shot in the head and abdomen. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he later died, according to the Medical Examiner’s office.

The most recent non-fatal shooting occurred in the Englewood neighborhood Saturday morning, injuring two men. The two men, ages 22 and 23, were in the 1700 block of West 64th Street when they were shot about 11:50 a.m., police said.

The 23-year-old man was shot in the chest and listed in serious condition; the 22-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder and was listed in good condition. Both were taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

Early Saturday on the West Side a 23-year-old man got into an argument about 2 a.m. with another male at an apartment party in the 3200 block of West Maypole Avenue, police said. The male shot the 23-year-old in the abdomen and buttocks. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition.

About 9:10 p.m. Friday in Englewood, a 35-year-old man was shot in abdomen and leg in the 1800 block of West 58th Street, police said. He was taken to Stroger in serious condition.

Also occurring in Englewood, about an hour earlier three men were shot in the 6900 block of Harvard Avenue, authorities said.

Police said a bullet grazed the face of a 25-year-old man; a 19-year-old who was with him was shot in the leg. Both were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The third man, 39, suffered a graze wound to the leg and taken to Stroger, police said.

The conditions of all three men had stabilized as of early Saturday, police said.

Friday evening on the Far North Side, a 15-year-old boy was shot in a Rogers Park alley near the 7400 block of North Hoyne, police said. The boy later told police he was standing in the alley when he heard gunfire and felt pain about 6:20 p.m.

The 15-year-old was taken in “stable” condition to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston with gunshot wounds to his lower back and leg, police said.

The weekend’s first shooting occurred Friday in West Garfield Park about 5:30 p.m., police said.

A 16-year-old girl was shot in the right knee and a 22-year-old man was shot in the right leg while sitting on a porch in the 3900 block of West Arthington Street, police said. Both were taken in “stable” condition to Stroger.

No one is in custody for any of the incidents as area detectives investigate.