Jeremiah Brown | Homicide Watch Chicago

UPDATE: Damien Thomas denied bond in murder of Jeremiah Brown after home invasion

Michael Lansu — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:37:57 -0500

Damien Thomas / Photo from Chicago Police

BY SAFIYA MERCHANT
Homicide Watch Chicago

Damien Thomas was denied bond Friday for his alleged role in a Chicago Lawn area home invasion that led to the murder of Jeremiah Brown.

Thomas is accused of being part of a group that broke into the Southwest Side home and fatally shot Brown during a failed getaway.

Thomas, Dorvell Gogins and a third suspect entered the home in the 6300 block of South Kedzie Avenue about 2:45 pm. July 11 and found Brown, a woman and her two small children, prosecutors said.

The group told Brown, 27, to stay near the ground and Gogins took the woman to a bedroom, prosecutors said. Gogins began searching the room, but Brown told the group “the stuff they were looking for” was in a gold Lexus.

Thomas, 21, and Gogins, 24, left the home in a green van, prosecutors said. The third suspect stayed at the home and got into a fight with Brown.

The unidentified suspect ran away after the fight, and Brown drove off in the Lexus, prosecutors said.

The van collided with a fence at a nearby Walgreens, and Gogins got out of the crashed van and opened fire on the Lexus, prosecutors said.

Brown stopped near the Walgreens, got out and collapsed, prosecutors said. Brown, of the 6200 block of South Albany Avenue, died on the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Gogins was found in an alley behind the Walgreens with two broken legs, authorities said.

Thomas, also known as “Shorty Cook,” was seen running from the murder, and was later identified in a lineup, authorities said. Thomas, of the 2300 block of West 65th Street, was arrested Wednesday and charged with murder and home invasion with the use of a firearm.

On Friday Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil ordered Thomas held without bond. He is scheduled to be back in court Nov. 13.

Thomas, who a police arrest report identified as an admitted member of the Gangster Disciples, lives with his mom and siblings and has been working for the past year, his public defender said.

Gogins, who was also charged with murder, will be back in court Nov. 26. The third suspect is not in custody.

Damien Thomas charged with killing Jeremiah Brown during Chicago Lawn home invasion, robbery: police

Michael Lansu — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 09:22:26 -0500

Damien Thomas / Photo from Chicago Police

Damien Thomas was charged with murder Wednesday for allegedly gunning down Jeremiah Brown during a July home invasion and robbery in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, police said.

Thomas and Dorvell Gogins allegedly broke into a home in the 6200 block of South Albany Avenue about 3 p.m. July 11 and shot 27-year-old Brown in the chest during the robbery, authorities said.

Brown, who lived in the home, was dead on the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Thomas, 21, of the 2300 block of West 65th Street, was charged with murder and home invasion, both felonies, police said. He is expected to appear for a bond hearing Thursday.

Gogins, 23, was arrested the day of the murder, police said.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Man killed in Chicago Lawn shooting

John Carpenter — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 10:00:21 -0500

A man was shot to death on the South Side Thursday afternoon in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood.

Jeremiah Brown, 27, was fatally shot in the chest at 3:21 p.m. in the 6300 block of South Kedzie Avenue, police News Affairs Officer Veejay Zala said.

Brown, of the 6200 block of South Albany Avenue, was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:31 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Police said detectives are speaking to a person of interest, however, no arrests have been made.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-Sun-Times Media Wire