John Serpe | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: Anthony Tucker fatally shot Downers Grove man during robbery

Will Hager — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 15:20:41 -0600

Anthony Tucker / Photo from Chicago Police

BY WILL HAGER
Homicide Watch Chicago

Anthony Tucker was ordered held without bond for allegedly fatally shooting a 44-year-old Downers Grove man and robbing two women at gunpoint this month in the West Garfield Park neighborhood.

The crime spree began when Tucker robbed a 25-year-old woman at gunpoint near Kenton Avenue and Monroe Street about 5 a.m. Feb. 9, Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini said.

Tucker, 41, then told the woman she was going to help him rob drug dealers selling on the street and threatened to kill her if she didn’t cooperate, Santini said.

The pair walked to a car in the 4500 block of West Monroe Street and Tucker tapped the driver’s side window with his gun and pointed it at the driver, John Serpe, Santini said.

Serpe attempted to drive away, but Tucker shot him through the window, Santini said.

Serpe, of the 2900 block of Maple Avenue in Downers Grove, suffered a single gunshot wound to the left side of his chest and died at the scene, authorities said.

After the shooting, Tucker unlocked the door and “went into the mortally wounded victim’s pockets,” Santini said. He then turned to a 20-year-old woman in the passenger seat and took her cellphone and money at gunpoint.

Both women fled, and the 20-year-old called police, Santini said. Tucker was arrested Feb. 16 and positively identified in a physical lineup.

Tucker, of the 1400 block of South Canal Street, was charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of felony robbery involving the discharge of a firearm and two counts of felony armed robbery, police said.

On Tuesday, Judge Laura Sullivan ordered Tucker held without bond.

In 1991, Tucker was sentenced to eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for aggravated battery with a firearm. He also has been sentenced for possession of a controlled substance six times since 1996, Santini said.

WEEK IN REVIEW: 7 homicides reported throughout the city

Michael Lansu — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 09:59:47 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Seven people died last week from violence throughout the city.

Six of the victims were shot to death, and a woman was found fatally stabbed in a burning Southwest Side building. The youngest person killed was 17 and the oldest was 51.

The most recent killing happened when 17-year-old Ronald Hayes was fatally shot in the 1300 block of West Hastings Street about 4:15 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Hayes, of the 1300 block of West Washburne Avenue, was pronounced dead at the scene an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

In the West Garfield Park neighborhood, 44-year-old John Serpe was fatally shot in the 4500 block of West Monroe Street about 5:10 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Police found Serpe, of the 2900 block of Maple Avenue in Downers Grove, sitting in the driver’s seat with a single gunshot wound to the left side of his chest, authorities said. He was declared dead at the scene.

In the Brighton Park neighborhood, firefighters found 51-year-old Lucy Wrobel stabbed to death in her burning home in the 2500 block of West 45th Place about 1:50 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Wrobel was dead on the scene and an autopsy found she died of multiple injuries from a physical assault, according to the medical examiner’s office. Her death was ruled a homicide.

In the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, 29-year-old Corey Williams was fatally shot in the chest about 1:30 a.m. Thursday in the 8100 block of South Marshfield Avenue, authorities said.

Williams, of the 6000 block of South Richmond Avenue, died a short time later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the medical examiner's office.

In the Rogers Park neighborhood, 17-year-old Markeyo Carr was killed in a shooting in a McDonald's parking lot that left three others injured about 3:40 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

The victims had been in an argument with another group shortly before the masked gunman approached them in the parking lot in the 6700 block of North Clark Street, police said. The shooter ran off and has not been charged.

Carr, of the 6500 block of North Ashland Avenue, was dead on the scene, according to the medical examiner's office. Also wounded were a 15-year-old girl and two 18-year-old men, according to police, who said two of the people shot had gang affiliations.

The killings started when 20-year-old Willie Buie was fatally shot in an alley in the 7600 block of South Wallace Street about 2:10 a.m. Tuesday, authorities said.

Buie was standing with at least one other man when a gunman approached and opened fire, authorities said. Buie, of the 7000 block of South Lowe Avenue, was struck multiple times and died at the scene.

Additionally, 34-year-old Sixto Roman died Tuesday after being shot in the head Feb. 1 in the Logan Square neighborhood.

Roman and another man, also 34, were shot while traveling in a light-colored car in the 3200 block of West Armitage Avenue, authorities said. The other man suffered a graze wound to the head and treated at Stroger Hospital, police said.

Nobody has been charged in any of the killings.

The medical examiner's office has ruled eight February deaths homicides.

In January, Chicago Police reported 20 murders, and the Cook County medical examiner's office, which tracks homicides different, tallied 23 killings in the month.

Downers Grove man fatally shot in West Garfield Park

Michael Lansu — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 09:01:15 -0600

A Downers Grove man was shot to death early Sunday in the West Garfield Park neighborhood.

Police responding to a call of shots fired found 44-year-old John Serpe shot in the 4500 block of West Monroe Street about 5:10 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Officers found Serpe sitting in the driver’s seat with a single gunshot wound to the left side of his chest, authorities said.

Serpe, of the 2900 block of Maple Avenue in Downers Grove, was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:15 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Nobody has been charged in the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire