Javan Boyd | Homicide Watch Chicago

Alleged gang member ‘D.Rose’ gets 40 years for fatal shooting of 14-year-old Venzel Richardson in 2014 in Woodlawn

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 09:41:03 -0600

By LUKE WILUSZ and JEFF MAYES
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Ahbir 'D.Rose' Sardin | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.

A South Side man whose street name appeared in the lyrics of several Chicago rappers was sentenced to 40 years in prison Tuesday after being found guilty last year of the 2014 fatal shooting of 14-year-old Venzel Richardson in Woodlawn.

Ahbir Sardin, known as “D.Rose,” was part of a crew of rappers including Lil Reese, Lil Durk and Chief Keef, known for their lyrical and social media feud with rapper Lil JoJo, who was murdered in 2012.

He was at one point accused, and then cleared of that murder.

But a Cook County jury convicted the 20-year-old of first-degree murder on Sept. 15, 2016, for the shooting death of Venzel Richardson, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.

On Tuesday, the alleged gang member was sentenced to 40 years, according to court records.

Venzel Richardson | photo provided

Sardin, 17 at the time of the Richardson’s murder, was featured by his “D.Rose” name in lyrics by Chief Keef, Cdai and RondoNumbaNine, sources said at the time of his arrest.

Richardson and his friends had just left a convenience store near 61st and King Drive on Feb. 12, 2014, and were walking south in the 6100 block of South Vernon when a white minivan pulled up alongside them, prosecutors said during Sardin’s trial.

Sardin, a member of the Black Disciples, according to prosecutors, slid the driver’s-side passenger door open and fired a handgun at the group multiple times.

Richardson, who lived in the 6400 block of South St. Lawrence, suffered four gunshot wounds, including one to the back of the head, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said at the time of the shooting. He ran into a gangway, but collapsed, and was pronounced dead there at 8:25 p.m.

Police learned Sardin may have been involved in the shooting and witnesses identified him in a photo array, prosecutors said. He was arrested about six weeks after the shooting, which police believe was gang related.

Sardin was at one time linked, falsely, to the high-profile 2012 slaying of Lil JoJo, whose real name was Joseph Coleman. He had been feuding with the Black Disciples, along with rival rappers Lil Reese, Lil Durk and Chief Keef before the murder, Homicide Watch Chicago reported at the time.

A post on social media claimed Sardin killed Lil JoJo, but the owner of the Facebook page where it was posted later claimed his account had been hacked. Sardin was not charged in that case.

But Cdai, whose real name was Courtney Ealy; and RondoNumberNine, real name Clint Massey, were both convicted of the murder of jitney cab driver Javan Boyd in May 2016 and are serving prison sentences of 38 and 39 years, respectively.

While Sardin was linked to a street gang, Richardson was a participant in the Mikva Challenge, a program that encourages high school students to take part in the political process through elections, community problem solving and policy-making programs, according to its website.

Jelani McEwen-Torrence, Richardson’s mentor in the program, said at the time that the teen would walk his nephews home every day after school before returning to take part in the program, Homicide Watch Chicago reported at the time.

Second rapper gets 39 years for slaying of Javan Boyd near U.S. Cellular field in 2014

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 18:02:34 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Clint Massey | Chicago Police

A South Side man was sentenced to 39 years in prison Tuesday for the 2014 slaying of a livery driver Javan Boyd just blocks away from U.S. Cellular Field.

Clint Massey, 19, was sentenced to 39 years in prison during a hearing Tuesday by Judge Vincent Gaughan, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.

Massey and 21-year-old Courtney Ealy were previously convicted of first-degree murder for the shooting. Ealy was previously sentenced to 38 years in prison.

Both of the convicted men were rappers. Ealy performed under the name Cdai; while Massey performed as RondoNumbaNine.

Courtney Ealy | Chicago Police

On Feb. 22, 2014, Massey and Ealy were part of a group who drove three cars to the Wentworth Gardens apartment complex, where they were seeking retaliation for an earlier shooting, prosecutors said.

As they arrived in the 3700 block of South Princeton, Massey and Ealy saw the 29-year-old Boyd sitting in the driver’s side of his parked vehicle and got out of their vehicles, prosecutors said.

They approached the passenger’s side of Boyd’s car, asked where Boyd was from, and then fired numerous times, prosecutors said. Boyd was hit seven times before the shooters returned to their vehicles and took off.

Boyd, who had been waiting for a customer, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he later died, authorities said.

Javan Boyd | Facebook

The shooting was captured on Chicago Housing Authority video surveillance. Prosecutors also said Ealy dropped his cellphone near the victim's car.

Boyd, whom family members called a “clean cut,” “old-school” guy who enjoyed spending time with his 11-year-old daughter, especially taking her bowling and skating.

He was born in New Orleans and came to Chicago in 1991 with his family to live in the Robert Taylor Homes in Bronzeville. A fire there three years later claimed the life of his mother, two sisters and brother, according to relatives. Boyd survived and was adopted by an aunt.

Rapper gets 38 years for fatally shooting livery driver Javan Boyd as he waited for customer in 2014 in Bridgeport

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 10 May 2016 14:28:39 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Courtney Ealy, aka Cdai | Chicago Police

A South Side rapper has been sentenced to 38 years in prison for the 2014 slaying of livery driver Javan Boyd just blocks away from U.S. Cellular Field.

Judge Vincent Gaughan handed down the sentence Monday to 21-year-old Courtney Ealy for the Feb. 22, 2014, shooting, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office. Ealy performs rap music under the name Cdai

Ealy and 19-year-old Clint Massey, who performs as RondoNumbaNine, were part of a group looking for retaliation for a previous shooting when they took three cars to the Wentworth Gardens apartment complex in the 3700 block of South Princeton, prosecutors said.

Ealy and Massey got out of their vehicle when they spotted Boyd in the driver seat of a car parked on the block. They walked up to the passenger side, asked Boyd where he was from, then opened fire, shooting the 29-year-old seven times, prosecutors said.

Clint Massey, aka RondoNumbaNine | Chicago Police

Boyd, who had been waiting for a customer, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he later died, authorities said.

Ealy, of the 300 block of East 60th Street, dropped his cellphone at the scene before he and Massey returned to their car and the group drove away, prosecutors said.

Chicago Housing Authority surveillance cameras caught the shooting on video; and police recovered Ealy’s fingerprint from the window of Boyd’s car, prosecutors said.

The shooters were arrested in the weeks after the attack and both were convicted of first-degree murder. Massey, of the 6600 block of South Honore, is scheduled for sentencing June 14.

PHOTO ESSAY: Winter memorials mark the deaths of Chicago murder victims

Chase DiFeliciantonio — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 16:30:44 -0500

BY CHASE DIFELICIANTONIO
Homicide Watch Chicago

A balloon sways in the wind. An empty liquor bottle rests on the pavement. Flowers wilt in the January snow. These are the memorials for some of Chicago's murder victims.

The memorials are temporary places where grieving family and friends can share words and photos to celebrate the victim's life.

Some memorials are erected at the scene of a crime, while others are built outside the victim's home, but all are reminders of lives taken by violence.

Alex Anderson

Tramian Barnes allegedly fatally shot 19-year-old Alex Anderson in January in the Portage Park neighborhood. After being shot, Anderson stumbled home and said, “Tre Shot me.” Anderson died the next day and became the 15th homicide victim of 2014.

Photo from Alex Anderson memorial / Photo by Chase DiFeliciantonio

A memorial for Anderson featuring candles and liquor bottles was created near a snowy sidewalk outside his home.

Photos from Alex Anderson memorial / Photo by Chase DiFeliciantonio

Ronald Hayes

Ronald Hayes, 17, was fatally shot in February while shoveling snow by his Near West Side home, family said. His mother, Cathy Booker, wore her son's Banner West Academy school ID around her neck as she recalled his love for basketball and his teenage appetite for tacos and Italian beef.

Booker shows Hayes' school ID / Photo by Chase DiFeliciantonio

Hayes’ memorial was created where he was gunned down and featured stuffed animals and flowers struggling to survive in the February snow. A single blue balloon swayed silhouetted against the sky -- an exclamation point marking the city’s 31st homicide of 2014.

Photos from Ronald memorial / Photo by Chase DiFeliciantonio

Javan Boyd

Javan Boyd, 28, was working his night job as a livery driver when at least two gunmen fatally shot him just blocks from U.S. Cellular Field in February. His aunt, Trina Boyd, said he was a hard working man who loved to play basketball and spend time with his 11-year-old daughter.

The memorials often look colorful from a distance, but up close nicknames and expressions of love are written in black ink on a blank white board.

Photos from Javan Boyd memorial / Photo by Chase DiFeliciantonio

Eric Woods

Alexander Scott allegedly fatally shot 25-year-old Eric Woods at his West Garfield Park home in late February during a domestic dispute.

Eric Woods / Family Photo

Mourners stood in front of the home and wrote “forever you live thru” and “you live through us” on a message board posted outside. A trail of blood spattered the stairs and sidewalk in front of the home and red roses had been scattered across the scene.

Photos from Eric Woods memorial / Photo by Chase DiFeliciantonio

Rapper Cdai charged with murder in shooting death of livery Javan Boyd near U.S. Cellular Field

Michael Lansu — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:48:46 -0500

Courtney Ealy / Photo from Chicago Police

BY WILL HAGER
Homicide Watch Chicago

Courtney Ealy allegedly left his cell phone outside of a livery car after he and fellow South Side rapper Clint Massey fatally shot the driver last month near U.S. Cellular Field, authorities said.

Ealy, who raps under the moniker Cdai, was signed to Savage Squad Records in December 2013. Massey raps under the name RondoNumbaNine and his song “Hang Wit Me” has nearly 1.5 million views on YouTube.

Assistant State’s Attorney Glen Runk said Javan Boyd was in his cab waiting for a fare in the 3700 block of South Princeton Avenue on Feb. 22 when three cars drove past.

The first vehicle did a U-turn and pulled up next to Boyd’s car, Runk said. Ealy and Massey allegedly exited the vehicle, went to the passenger side of Boyd’s vehicle and asked if he was from the area.

When Boyd responded that he was from the area Ealy and Massey opened the passenger’s side door and fired multiple shots into the car -- striking Boyd, Runk said.

Ealy and Massey then got back into their vehicle and drove off with the two other vehicles, Runk said. Ealy allegedly left his cell phone outside Boyd’s car.

Boyd, 28, of the 7400 block of South Chappel Avenue, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hosptial of Cook County less than two hours later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The shooting was captured on Chicago Housing Authority video and investigators also found both Ealy and Massey’s fingerprints on Boyd’s car, Runk said.

Massey, 17, of the 6600 block of South Honore Street, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder earlier this month, authorities said. He is being held on $2 million bond.

Chicago Police gang officers arrested Ealy this week in the 1800 block of Willow Road in Northfield, according to court documents. Ealy, 19, of the 300 block of East 60th Street, was charged with one count of first-degree murder.

Ealy appeared for a bond hearing Tuesday dressed in a black and white shirt and black pants. Judge Peggy Chiampas ordered him held on $1 million bond for the murder and no bond for violations on two unrelated cases.

Chiampas also issued a no-contact order restricting Ealy from interacting with any of the witnesses or going to the area where the shooting occurred.

“You are prohibited from all social media, which means no Facebook, no Instagram, no my-gram, your-gram, I don’t care whose it is,” Chiampas said.

Ealy was convicted of felony robbery in 2012 and was sentenced to two years probation, Runk said. He currently has two probation violations on that case.

Ealy is a lifelong Chicago resident who lives with his mother, a public defender said. He had been enrolled in GED classes. Ealy's sister declined to comment after the bond hearing.

In addition to being a part-time livery driver, Boyd worked as a food-packer in west suburban Woodridge, his family said last month.

Javan Boyd / Family Photo

Family members described Javan Boyd as a “clean cut,” “old-school” guy who enjoyed spending time with his 11-year-old daughter. He especially liked taking her bowling and skating.

He was born in New Orleans and came to Chicago in 1991 with his family to live in the Robert Taylor Homes in the Bronzeville community. A fire there three years later claimed the life of his mother, two sisters and brother, according to relatives. Boyd survived and was adopted by an aunt.

Boyd had pleaded guilty in 2008 to an aggravated vehicular hijacking charge in Calumet City, but his family said he had turned his life around.

Comment of the Day: "My cousin was our everything and we're gonna miss him dearly!!!"

Chase DiFeliciantonio — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 16:28:30 -0500

Javan Boyd was fatally shot near U.S Cellular Field in February. Reader Lakeisha Odom posted this about him:

I would like to thank the cpd for everything, but trust me we will not rest until this entire lil click is brought down, my cousin did not deserve this. these young men think there above the law because they rap and they have [artist] signing them on, but as god is my witness justice [will] be served. i gotta believe that!! my family has been through a lot but this one really put a whole in our hearts he was all we left after his mom and siblings died.. i pray for his mom too it can not be easy knowing your child is a cold blooded murder, so my heart goes out to his family. [I] wouldn't want anyone feeling this pain that my family and i are feeling..but they must be stopped, if they don't bring this entire click down more [innocent] people are gonna get killed they are known for killing and getting away with it, my cousin was our everything and we're gonna miss him dearly!!! R.I.P BALLHEAD!!!!

Clint Massey charged with murder in shooting death of livery driver Javan Boyd near U.S. Cellular Field

Michael Lansu — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 16:23:05 -0500

BY JON SEIDEL
Chicago Sun-Times

A South Side teenager has been charged in last month's slaying of a livery driver blocks away from U.S. Cellular Field.

Witnesses allegedly saw Clint Massey, 17, fire a gun into a vehicle driven by 28-year-old Javan Boyd on Feb. 22, prosecutors said. A portion of the shooting was also caught on surveillance video.

Massey raps under the name RondoNumbaNine.

Massey, of the 6600 block of South Honore Street, is now charged with first-degree murder. Cook County Judge James Brown ordered him held Sunday in lieu of $2 million bond.

Assistant State's Attorney Robert Mack told the judge that Massey and an unnamed accomplice were out to retaliate for an earlier fight when they went to the 3700 block of South Princeton Avenue.

Boyd was there, sitting in his car and waiting for a customer, when Massey and the other alleged shooter approached and tried to open a door on the passenger side of Boyd's vehicle, Mack said. Then they began firing their handguns into the vehicle, shooting Boyd twice in the back and three times in the left leg, Mack said.

Javan Boyd / Family Photo

Boyd was shot seven times and pronounced dead at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Mack said.

Massey was arrested Friday evening when police pulled his car over in the 1000 block of North LaSalle Street, according to police reports. Mack said investigators found one of Massey's fingerprint on Boyd's car.

Boyd worked as a food-packer in west suburban Woodridge and recently began working as a part-time livery driver, his family said last month. He was born in New Orleans and came to Chicago in 1991 with his family to live in the Robert Taylor Homes in the Bronzeville community.

A fire there three years later claimed the life of his mother, two sisters and brother, according to relatives. Boyd survived and was adopted by an aunt.

He pleaded guilty in 2008 to an aggravated vehicular hijacking charge in Calumet City, but his family said he had turned his life around.

Family: Javan Boyd was working as livery driver when shot dead near U.S. Cellular Field

Michael Lansu — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 18:01:43 -0600

BY CHASE DIFELICIANTONIO AND HANNAH LUTZ
Homicide Watch Chicago

Javan Boyd recently started working a second job as a livery driver to help make ends meet.

Boyd was on the job when he was shot about 4 a.m. Saturday while driving in the 3700 block of South Princeton Avenue -- less than two blocks from U.S. Cellular Field, family and authorities said.

Boyd, 28, worked as a food packer in west suburban Woodridge and recently started as a part-time livery driver, said his aunt, Trina Boyd.

The day of the shooting, he had gone to the Armour Square community to pick up a customer, Trina Boyd said.

“He was always hard working, ever since high school,” said Archinese Harris, the mother of his 11-year-old daughter.

Javan Boyd was born in New Orleans, La., and came to Chicago in 1991 when his mother and three siblings moved to the Robert Taylor Homes in the Bronzeville community, Trina Boyd said.

Javan Boyd / Family Photo

Three years later, a fire in the housing project claimed the life of his mother, two sisters and brother, family said. Trina Boyd legally adopted the 9-year-old and raised him.

Javan Boyd loved basketball and played at Wendell Phillips Academy High School, where met with Harris and the pair had a daughter, family said.

“His daughter followed in his footsteps by playing basketball,” Trina Boyd said.

Javan Boyd had been in trouble in the past, and pleaded guilty in 2008 to an aggravated vehicular hijacking charge from Calumet City, but his family said he had turned his life around.

Family members described Javan Boyd as a “clean cut,” “old-school” guy who enjoyed spending time with his daughter. He especially liked taking her bowling and skating.

“[He] did what he had to do at the end of the day,” Trina Boyd said.

In addition to basketball, Javan Boyd also enjoyed playing sports video games and listening to old R&B music, his grandmother, Frankie Boyd said.

She said Javan Boyd enjoyed traveling, and the family was scheduled to go back to New Orleans for a Mardi Gras vacation. Instead, the family is mourning the loss of another relative.

Police said a gunman approached the passenger’s side of the vehicle and shot Boyd in the back and legs.

Javan Boyd Memorial photo By Chase DiFeliciantonio

Boyd, of the 7400 block of South Chappel Avenue, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County less than two hours later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

A memorial of signs, balloons, flowers and teddy bears mark the site of the shooting.

Nobody has been charged in the murder. Area Central detectives are investigating.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Four men shot dead in citywide shootings

Michael Lansu — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 08:58:35 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Four men were fatally shot throughout Chicago last week -- including a security guard for local rapper Twista.

The week began with a 126-hour stretch without a homicide, the longest murder-free stretch of 2014, and ended with four killings since late Thursday.

The most recent killing happened when 32-year-old Michael Redmond was shot multiple times while driving in the 200 block of North Latrobe Avenue about 7:40 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

After being shot, Redmond drove away and crashed into several parked cars in the 5500 block of West Washington Boulevard, authorities said. Investigators found a gun inside the vehicle, police said.

Redmond, of the 6200 block of West Wabansia Avenue, died at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood less than an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

In the Armour Square community, 28-year-old Javan Boyd was driving in the 3700 block of South Princeton Avenue when a gunman approached the passenger's side and opened fire about 4 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Boyd, of the 7400 block of South Chappel Avenue, was shot in the back and legs and less than two hours later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, authorities said.

On Friday, a security guard for rapper Twista was found shot to death in a burning South Chicago area home.

Firefighters responded about 6 a.m. Friday to a blaze at a 2 1/2-story, multi-unit home in the 8300 block of South Baker Avenue and found 31-year-old Davy Easterling dead inside a bedroom with multiple gunshot wounds, authorities said.

An autopsy determined Easterling, of the 8100 block of South Vernon Avenue, died from the gunshots and not the fire, according to the medical examiner's office, which ruled the death a homicide.

The killings started when police found Regimond Maxwell Jr. shot in a stairwell in the 0-100 block of South Mason Avenue about 10:40 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Maxwell, 23, of the 1500 block of South Harding Avenue, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was dead at the scene, authorities said.

Nobody has been charged in any of the murders.

The Cook County medical examiner's office has ruled 41 Chicago deaths in 2014 homicides -- including two people killed by police. Chicago Police, which counts murders different, has ruled at least three of those deaths involuntary manslaughter or justified self-defense.

Javan Boyd fatally shot in Armour Square community

Michael Lansu — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 14:18:04 -0600

Javan Boyd was shot to death early Saturday in the Armour Square community.

Boyd, 28, was driving in the 3700 block of South Princeton Avenue about when a person approached the vehicle’s passenger side and began shooting about 4 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Boyd, of the 7400 block of South Chappel Avenue, was shot in the back and legs and died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County at 5:45 a.m., authorities said.

Nobody has been charged with the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating.