WEEK IN REVIEW: Six more people killed in Chicago, including Cook County judge gunned down in front of his home

Jeff Mayes — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 12:31:29 -0500

By JEFF MAYES
Homicide-Watch Chicago

Six more people were homicide victims in Chicago last week, including a Cook County judge shot to death in front of his South Side home, as the city's epidemic of violence kept pace with with 2016, a year which saw the most murders in two decades.

On April 19, Chicago recorded its 171st homicide of the year, according to records kept by the Chicago Sun-Times. In 2016, the 171st homicide of the year was also recorded on April 19. However, the ciuty's 172nd and 173rd homicides were also reported on April 19, so as of Friday morning, this year is running two homicides behind last year, which ended with more than 780.

The violence actually slowed down somewhat last week, as four of the six fatal shootings were reported on Monday, April 17, and just two others happened the rest of the week.

The most shocking crime of the week involved the judge, who was shot to death in an incident that also left a woman wounded early Monday in the West Chesterfield neighborhood on the South Side.

Officers responded at 4:51 a.m. to a call of shots fired in the 9400 block of South Forest and found the 66-year-old man and 52-year-old woman suffering from gunshot wounds, according to police. The man was identified as Cook County Associate Judge Raymond Myles, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Myles, who lived on the same block, was pronounced dead at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 5:33 a.m. His girlfriend was shot in the leg and was taken in serious condition to Christ Medical Center, police said.

Two days later, the 37-year-old man who allegedly drove the getaway car was charged with murder, police said. Joshua Smith was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and obstruction, police said. The motive for the shootings was robbery and Myles was targeted, police said, though the incident had nothing to do with his position as a judge.

Last week's final homicide occurred early Sunday, when one man was killed and another wounded in a Douglas Park neighborhood shooting on the Southwest Side. The pair was standing outside at 2:27 a.m. in the 1300 block of South Fairfield when another male opened fire, according to Chicago Police.
Tywan Anderson, 23, suffered gunshot wounds to the head and back, and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:57 a.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. A 19-year-old man was shot in the left hand and was also taken to Mount Sinai, where his condition was stabilized.
- A 26-year-old man was shot to death Wednesday morning in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side, police said. At 10:33 a.m., Darian Cobbs was sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle in the 5400 block of West Kamerling when another male walked up, pulled a handgun and fired shots into the vehicle. Cobbs was shot in the body and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. He lived in the West Side North Lawndale neighborhood.
- A man died a day after being shot Monday afternoon in an attack that left another man injured in North Lawndale. Fontaine T. Sanders, 19; and a 20-year-old man were in the 4300 block of West 15th Street about noon Monday when someone got out of a vehicle and fired shots, according to police and the medical examiner's office. Sanders, known as BL, was shot in the head and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:59 p.m. Tuesday, authorities said. He lived in the same neighborhood. The older man was shot in the arm and was in good condition.
- A 19-year-old man was shot to death Monday night in the Roseland neighborhood on the Far South Side. Emmanuel Reid was walking with a 37-year-old woman east in the 100 block of East 112th Street about 9:20 p.m. when they heard shots, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. The woman ran away and when she turned to look for Reid, she saw him lying on the ground and called 911, authorities said. Reid was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene at 9:25 p.m. He lived in the West Pullman neighborhood.
- A man was killed in a West Pullman shooting that left an 11-year-old boy wounded Monday afternoon on the Far South Side. About 5:20 p.m., 26-year-old Keshawn Slaughter was with the boy in the 11600 block of South Bishop when a white vehicle pulled up and someone inside opened fire, according to police and the medical examiner’s office. Slaughter was shot in the back of the head, and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m., authorities said. The boy suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder and was also taken to Christ Medical Center, where he was listed in serious condition, police said.

Keshawn Slaughter fatally shot, 11-year-old stepson wounded while walking home from store in West Pullman

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 09:37:46 -0500

Keshawn Slaughter was walking home from the store with his 11-year-old stepson Monday afternoon in the West Pullman neighborhood when shots rang out.

Hours later, the 26-year-old died at a hospital, while the boy was left in serious condition.

About 5:20 p.m., Slaughter was walking with the boy in the 11600 block of South Bishop when a white vehicle pulled up and someone inside opened fire, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Slaughter was shot in the back of the head, and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m., authorities said.

The boy suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder and was also taken to Christ Medical Center, where he was listed in serious condition, police said.

Family members said Slaughter had overcome past problems with the law, had started a new job and was working hard to raise his family.

--Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Keshawn Slaughter | Homicide Watch Chicago

WEEK IN REVIEW: Six more people killed in Chicago, including Cook County judge gunned down in front of his home

Keshawn Slaughter fatally shot, 11-year-old stepson wounded while walking home from store in West Pullman