Larry Martin | Homicide Watch Chicago

Comment of the Day: "These babies are introduced to death [too] early in the worst ways"

Michael Lansu — Tue, 06 May 2014 17:42:18 -0500

Larry Martin was fatally stabbed last week in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood. After the attack, his 8-year-old son unsuccessfully tried to save his life. Reader Tavia Fireinmysoul Rose posted this about the killing:

this is sooooo sad...that poor baby...these babies are introduced to death to early in the worst ways.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Nine murdered throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 05 May 2014 09:26:32 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Nine people were murdered last week in Chicago, and a 10th person died from injuries suffered in a mid-April shooting.

The killings included seven shooting deaths, one stabbing and one man intentionally run over by an SUV.

Four of the murders happened over the weekend, when 26 other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent murder happened when 41-year-old William Bailey was shot in the back in a garage in the 9200 block of South Emerald Avenue about 11:35 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Bailey, of the 7300 block of South Union Avenue, about an hour later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

In the Chatham neighborhood, 29-year-old Jabari Davis was fatally shot in his home in the 900 block of East 81st Street about 7:15 a.m. Sunday, authorities said. He died at the scene.

In the Austin neighborhood, 23-year-old Terrance McNeal was fatally shot during a fight on a sidewalk in the 400 block of North Leclaire Avenue about 3:15 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

McNeal, of the 400 block of North Leamington Avenue, was shot in the abdomen and arm and died at Mount Sinai Hospital, authorities said.

On Saturday, 55-year-old Rickey Hayes was fatally stabbed during a fight in the 7900 block of South Ingleside Avenue about 9:45 p.m., authorities said.

Hayes, of the 500 block of East 76th Street, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County about an hour later, according to the medical examiner's office.

In the McKinley Park neighborhood, 24-year-old Antonio Mendez was intentionally run over by an SUV during an argument in the 1800 block of West 33rd Place about 6:45 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Mendez, of the 2200 block of West 35th Place, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County less than a half hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office. An autopsy determined Mendez died from multiple injuries from an SUV striking a pedestrian and the death was ruled a homicide.

On Thursday, 34-year-old Jeromy Ellis was fatally shot in the head near East 81st Street and South Cottage Grove Avenue about 2:05 a.m., authorities said. Ellis, of the 7600 block of South Drexel Avenue, was dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Wednesday, Miata Phelan fatally stabbed her boyfriend, Larry Martin, about 6:40 p.m. inside his home in the 6800 block of South Talman Avenue in the Chicago Lawn community, authorities said.

Martin's family said his 8-year-old son tried to save his father by applying pressure to the stab wound with a towel. Martin, 28, died about an hour later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Prosecutors said Phelan, who is seven months pregnant, became enraged when she found out Martin bought gifts for his cousin and brother during a trip to the mall.

About 4:30 p.m. Monday, 14-year-old Endia Martin was fatally shot by another 14-year-old girl during a fight over a boy in the 900 block of West Garfield Boulevard, authorities said.

Endia, of the 5300 block of South Wallace Street, died at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital 40 minutes later, according to the medical examiner's office.

The shooter and her uncle, Donnell Flora, of the 8300 block of South Buffalo, were each charged with first-degree murder, authorities said. Numerous other people were charged for their role in the fight and shooting.

The killings started when Crystal Caffey, 27, allegedly fatally stabbed Marvin Turner, 29, about 2:30 a.m. last Monday in their home in the 4000 block of West Maypole Avenue, authorities said.

Prosecutors claim Caffey and Turner were a couple, and she stabbed him during a fight over missing money after a card game at their West Garfield Park home.

Additionally, 45-year-old John J. Miles died last Tuesday from injuries suffered when he was shot multiple times about 11:30 a.m. April 19 outside his home in the 1700 block of West Rosehill Drive, authorities said.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 116 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including five people killed by police.

Additionally, the state’s attorney’s office filed first-degree murder charges against a speeding motorist who killed an off-duty police officer while trying to flee police even though the autopsy ruled the death an accident.

Chicago Police, which counts murders different, have ruled at least eight of the homicides as involuntary manslaughter, justified self-defense or accidents.

Prosecutors: Miata Phelan fatally stabbed Larry Martin for not buying her gifts

Emily Brosious — Sat, 03 May 2014 00:49:44 -0500

Miata Phelan / Photo from Cook County Sheriff's police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Miata Phelan’s rage was sparked when she found out her boyfriend bought gifts for his cousin and brother after a trip to the mall, Cook County prosecutors said.

And before it was over, the Columbia College student’s anger boiled over to the point where she allegedly stabbed Larry Martin.

Standing over Martin’s body, Phelan--who is seven months pregnant with Martin’s child--screamed as his 8-year-old son looked on: “This is what you get for messing with me. I hope you die mother f-----,” Assistant State’s Attorney Glen Runk said.

Martin did die from Wednesday’s incident near the couple’s apartment, in the 6800 block of South Talman Avenue.

“His last words was to me,” Martin’s son Lavelle told the Sun-Times Thursday. “He said, ‘I’m gonna die, but I love you.’ ”

Earlier, Phelan, Martin, Martin’s cousin and son went to the mall, Runk said.

When Phelan, 24, learned Martin did not buy anything for her, she accused him of being “selfish,” Runk said.

She allegedly ended up hitting 28-year-old Martin in the car, almost causing him to swerve.

Phelan kicked and scratched Martin when he went to drop off some shoes for his brother and his mother’s home, Runk said.

Then she drove off with the car, leaving the three others to walk back, Runk said.

Phelan argued with Martin a bit more at the apartment but then she locked him, his cousin and Lavelle out, Runk said.

Phelan let Martin in after he banged on the door, but then she allegedly stabbed him in the side as Lavelle watched, Runk said.

The cousin escorted Martin out, applying pressure to his wound.

Martin collapsed on the sidewalk.

Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil ordered Phelan held in lieu of $3 million bail Friday.

Phelan is eight classes away from receiving her bachelor’s degree at Columbia College, an assistant public defender said.

Phelan, who wore pink pants in court, had scratches and a swollen face, the defense attorney noted.

Boy, 8, tries to save father fatally stabbed in Chicago Lawn home

Susan Du — Thu, 01 May 2014 17:56:02 -0500

Larry Martin / Family Photo

BY SUSAN DU
Homicide Watch Chicago

When 8-year-old Lavelle Martin found his father stabbed in their Chicago Lawn home he tried to save his life by applying pressure with a towel to the bleeding chest wound as puddles of blood formed on the floor.

Despite Lavelle’s efforts, Larry Martin was declared dead at 7:46 p.m. Wednesday night at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

“His last words was to me,” Lavelle said. “He said, ‘I’m gonna die, but I love you.’”

Martin, 28, was stabbed about 6:40 p.m. Wednesday at his home in the 6800 block of South Talman Avenue, authorities said. A bleeding Martin tried to follow his attacker into the street, but fell down the stairs, Lavelle said.

A dying Martin begged Lavelle for water and complained of difficulties breathing, the boy said.

Earlier that day, Martin played with Lavelle in the park and took him shopping at the mall, family said.

“On Easter, we went to church together. We’d go fishing together, we went to the mall together, we got our haircuts together,” Lavelle said.

When Martin wasn’t with Lavelle, he was spending time with friends, his cousin Valencia Jenkins said. Martin enjoyed club hopping even though he wasn’t a great dancer, she said.

“He was caring, considerate, always trying to steer people in the right direction,” Jenkins said. “He treated everybody like they were his own, took up a lot of responsibility. He was raised on strict morals and values. He was a fun-loving guy.”

Martin grew up on the South Side and attended Harlan High School before moving to the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, and relatives gathered at his mother Angela Jenkins’ nearby home Thursday.

Martin recently found temporary work unloading trucks in a warehouse after years of working at McDonald’s, family said. Lavelle said his dad’s dream was to open a restaurant where he could cook his own recipes.

Angela Jenkins said Martin struggled as a single father, but never cut corners when raising Lavelle.

“There wasn’t a day [of school] that Lavelle missed because my son couldn’t get up,” Angela Jenkins said. “He got up, got him dressed, told him what to put on. They walked to school. That was all he knew, his kids.”

Angela Jenkins said she is going to care for Lavelle and get herself the boy counseling as the family waits for police to capture the killer.

Relatives said Martin knew his attacker. Police said the attacker is not in custody Thursday evening.

Angela Jenkins, holds a family photo as she sits with her grandson, Lavelle Martin the day after her son Larry was stabbed to death. Susan Du / Homicide Watch

Larry Martin fatally stabbed at Chicago Lawn home

Michael Lansu — Thu, 01 May 2014 09:49:04 -0500

Larry Martin was stabbed to death Wednesday night at his Chicago Lawn area home.

Martin, 28, was stabbed in the chest at his home in the 6800 block of South Talman Avenue about 6:40 p.m., authorities said.

Martin died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 7:46 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire