Kamaal Burton | Homicide Watch Chicago

Cousin: Slain teen Kamaal Burton 'would do anything for his granny'

Michael Lansu — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 11:02:33 -0500

Kamaal Burton / Photo Photo from Facebook

BY KALEY FOWLER
Homicide Watch Chicago

Kamaal Burton was a "walking radio" who announced his presence by blasting hip-hop music, his cousin said.

“We always heard Kamaal coming because he had his music blaring,” said Marquette Hearon. “He was always listening to hip-hop, especially King Louie -- he was Kamaal’s favorite.”

Hip-hop music no longer fills the Burton's home as the 18-year-old was fatally shot Sept. 18 in the Altgeld Gardens community.

Authorities said Burton was walking with another male near East 133rd Street and South Langley Avenue when two gunmen walked up and opened fire about 9:40 p.m. that night.

Burton, of the 13300 block of South Langley Avenue, was shot in the chest and died at the scene, authorities said.

Burton lived with his grandmother his entire life, said his cousin Cortni Turner.

“She had guardianship over him since he was two years old and they were extremely close,” Turner said. “He would do anything for his granny, and his death has been really hard on her because she raised him.”

Another cousin, Moriah Quinn, described Burton as a kind person.

“I don’t’ think I’ve ever seen Kamaal angry in the whole 18 years he’s been living,” Turner said. “There were no dull moments with Kamaal. Every time I think about him all I can do is smile.”

Hearon said Burton graduated in 2013 from Urban Prep Academy and said his cousin was accepted to multiple universities.

Burton loved playing all sports and was on the baseball team at Urban Prep, said Hearon, who added that Burton also enjoyed bowling and basketball -- especially the Chicago Bulls.

Burton enrolled at Illinois State University, where he studied business and hoped to start the university's real estate program in October, Hearon said.

However, another friend, who asked to remain anonymous, said Burton did not plan to return to ISU this year.

“He liked school more for the social aspect. He would go to class but he didn’t love it,” the friend said. “He stayed in Chicago instead of coming back to ISU for a second year. He felt more at home in the streets than he did at school”

Following the shooting, Say No More Entertainment hosted a remembrance ceremony on the ISU campus that drew about 50 people, the friend said.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Nine dead in Chicago slayings

Michael Lansu — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 09:03:43 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Nine people were killed in shootings and stabbings throughout Chicago last week.

Two of the murders happened over the weekend, when at least 30 others were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened when 21-year-old Davontae Harrison motorist was shot in the chest in the 3900 block of West Ferdinand Street in the Humboldt Park area about 6:50 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

He kept driving until police were flagged down in the 3300 block of West Chicago Avenue, police said.

Harrison, of the 600 block of North Troy Street, died less than an hour later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

In the West Garfield Park neighborhood, police found 16-year-old Cortez Rivers shot multiple times in the 4000 block of West Jackson Boulevard about 4:15 a.m. Saturday.

Rivers, of the 5200 block of West Quincy Street, died at Loretto Hospital about 30 minutes later, according to the medical examiner's office.

On Friday, 21-year-old Dimitre Beck was stabbed in the 7300 block of South Halsted Street and tried to rob him about 10 p.m., authorities said.

Police said Beck was part of a group that attempted to rob a man and was stabbed during the ensuing struggle.

Beck, of the 7300 block of South Peoria Street, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 2:46 a.m. Saturday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy ruled the death a homicide, but police called the attack self-defense.

In Englewood, 19-year-old Markise Darling was shot in the abdomen, buttocks and thigh in the 1600 block of West 61st Street about 2 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Darling, who lived on the block, was taken to Christ Medical Center, where he died at 6:16 p.m. Saturday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Thursday, 18-year-old Kamaal Burton was walking near East 133rd Street and South Langley Avenue when two males walked up and opened fire, authorities said.

Burton, of an unidentified home address, was shot in the chest and died at the scene, authorities said.

In the Old Town neighborhood, 16-year-old Jesse White Tumbling Team member Devonshay Lofton was in the 1300 block of North Cleveland Avenue when a gunman on a bicycle opened fire about 9:20 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Devonshay, of the 1300 block of North Hudson Avenue, was shot and later died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

On Wednesday, 19-year-old Justin Mercado was standing on a sidewalk in the 5000 block of West Wrightwood Avenue in the Belmont Cragin community when gunfire erupted about 10:50 p.m., authorities said.

Marcado, who lived on the block, was shot in the abdomen and died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center at 1:04 a.m. Thursday, authorities said. A 17-year-old boy was shot in both legs but survived, police said.

In Englewood, 19-year-old Kawantis Montgomery was in the 6100 block of South Carpenter Street when a gunman in a passing vehicle shot him about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Montgomery, of an unidentified home address, was shot in the chest and shoulder and died at Christ Medical Center less than two hours later, authorities said.

The killing started when 22-year-old Christopher McGee was shot in the chest in the 4500 block of North Magnolia Avenue in Uptown about 10:55 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

McGee, of the 4400 block of North Magnolia Avenue, died at Illinois Masonic Medical Center at 12:06 p.m. Monday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Nobody has been charged in any of the killings.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 313 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including 12 people killed by police.

Chicago Police, which counts murders different, have ruled some of those homicides as involuntary manslaughter, justified self-defense or accidents.

Kamaal Burton killed in Altgeld Gardens shooting

Michael Lansu — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 13:44:38 -0500

Kamaal Burton / Photo from Facebook

Kamaal Burton was fatally shot Thursday night in the Altgeld Gardens community.

Burton, 18, was walking with another male near East 133rd Street and South Langley Avenue when two males walked up and opened fire about 9:40 p.m. Thursday, authorities said. The shooting happened near CICS Lloyd Bond elementary school.

Burton, of an unidentified home address, was shot in the chest and died at the scene, authorities said.

Burton's Facebook page indicated he graduated Urban Prep Academy in 2013. Say No More Entertainment will be having a remembrance ceremony at 7 p.m. Sunday behind Watterson Hall on the Illinois State University campus in downstate Normal.

As news of the killing spread, friends took to social media to expresses their condolences.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area South detectives are investigating.