Leonard Anderson | Homicide Watch Chicago

First of three men accused of 2013 fatal shooting of rapper L'A Capone pleads guilty, sentenced to 45 years in prison

Jeff Mayes — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 12:31:30 -0600

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Meiko Buchanan | Illinois Dept. of Corrections

The first of three men charged with the 2013 fatal shooting of rapper Leonard “L’A Capone” Anderson outside a South Side recording studio has been sentenced to 45 years in prison.

Meiko Buchanan, 25, pleaded guilty Nov. 2 to two counts of murder before Judge Maura Slattery Boyle, according to Cook County court records.

Anderson, 17, had just left the studio in the 7000 block of South Stony Island Avenue and was walking through an alley when he was confronted and shot Sept. 26, 2013, authorities said at the time.

Leonard "L'A Capone" Anderson | Facebook

Anderson, who rapped under the moniker L’A Capone, was shot in the right thigh and lower back, Chicago Police said. He was pronounced dead at 8:33 p.m. at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Anderson, of the 7200 block of South Bennett Avenue, was no stranger to gun violence and had previously been shot, his mother, Dedra Morris, told the Sun-Times. She said he had just turned 17 and a birthday cake was still sitting in her kitchen to celebrate.

Also charged with murder in the case are Sakhee Hardy-Johnson, 17, and Michael Mays, 21, according to authorities. However, no one has yet been charged with pulling the trigger.

Sakhee Hardy-Johnson | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.

But Hardy-Johnson and Mays both gave statements admitting to getting a gun before going to the studio, prosecutors said. They also admitted being inside a parked vehicle “that would run interference in the event that police officers arrived on scene.”

Buchanan was charged with murder for being the driver of a “tail car,” a vehicle meant to insulate the lead car containing the gunman, prosecutors said. Buchanan told investigators he watched the shooter sneak up on Anderson and open fire with a .40 or .45 caliber handgun.

Judge Slattery Boyle sentenced Buchanan, of the 600 block of West 60th Street, to 45 years in prison, according to court records. He will receive credit for 802 days served in the Cook County Jail, and must serve three years of supervised release.

Michael Mays | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.

Buchanan began serving his sentence at the Menard Correctional Center on Nov. 3, according to Illinois Department of Corrections records.

Hardy-Johnson, 20, was next scheduled to appear in court Monday, according to court records. Mays, 24, is next scheduled to appear in court Feb. 6.

Three charged in murder of rapper Leonard "L'A Capone" Anderson

Michael Lansu — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 19:00:48 -0500

BY BRIAN SLODYSKO
Chicago Sun-Times

Three people have been charged with murder in the September 2013 shooting death of Chicago rapper Leonard “L’A Capone” Anderson outside a South Side recording studio.

Anderson, 17, had just exited the studio in the 7000 block of South Stony Island Avenue and was walking through an alley when he was confronted and shot Sept. 26, 2013, said Assistant State's Attorney Alex Molesky.

Anderson, who rapped under the moniker L’A Capone, was struck in the lower back and right thigh and died a short time later, authorities said.

Sakhee Hardy-Johnson, 17, and Michael Mays, 21, gave statements admitting to getting a gun before going to the studio, Molesky said.

They also admitted to being inside a parked vehicle "that would run interference in the event that police officers arrived on scene," she said.

Meiko Buchanan was also charged with murder for allegedly being the driver of a “tail car,” a vehicle meant to insulate a lead car containing a gunman, Molesky said.

Buchanan, 23, told investigators he watched the shooter sneak up on Anderson and open fire with a .40 or .45 caliber handgun, Molesky said.

Authorities did not name the shooter.

Anderson, of the 7200 block of South Bennett Avenue, was no stranger to gun violence and had previously been shot, said his mother, Dedra Morris. Police said Anderson had documented gang affiliations.

On Saturday, Judge Laura Sullivan ordered Mays held on $500,000 bond and Hardy-Johnson held on $350,000 bond.

On Sunday, Judge Adam D. Bourgeois Jr. ordered Buchanan, of the 600 block of West 60th Street, held on $1 million bond. He was already being held in Cook County jail for an unrelated battery case.

All three will be back in court Sept. 10.

-- Contributing: Michael Lansu

Comment of the Day: "What a handsome young guy"

Safiya Merchant — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 16:49:55 -0600

Leonard Anderson, 17, was shot and killed outside a South Side recording studio back in September. Annie Kiser commented on his death.

"What a handsome young guy. So heartbreaking for any mom to lose a child, no matter the circumstances. I am sorry for this lady's loss."

Mom remembers slain rap artist

Safiya Merchant — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 15:21:37 -0500

Dedra Morris remembers her son, Leonard Anderson, who was killed outside a South Side music studio Thursday evening. Anderson, who went by the name L'A Capone, turned 17 earlier this month.

Local rapper and friend of Lil Durk fatally shot Thursday

Safiya Merchant — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 13:20:05 -0500

A local teenage rapper who was known to be friends with Lil Durk, a Chicago rapper with ties to Chief Keef, died Thursday night after getting shot in an alley.

Leonard Anderson, 17, was waiting to be picked up with a friend after coming out of a recording studio in the 7000 block of Stony Island.

After stepping into the alley, he was shot in the right thigh and lower back, police said. He was pronounced dead at 8:33 p.m. at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Anderson went by the name of L'A Capone in his musical career. His mother, Dedra Morris, said he got shot last year in September as well.

Police said Anderson had documented gang affiliations and that the investigation into his death is ongoing.

Anderson was friends with Lil Durk, Morris said. Lil Durk, whose real name is Durk D. Banks, was convicted of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in 2012, but was released on parole in July 2012. He had a subsequent gun violation this past June.

Teen killed in South Side shooting

Luke Wilusz — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 05:53:15 -0500

Leonard Anderson was fatally shot in the South Shore neighborhood Thursday afternoon.

Anderson, 17, was sitting with a friend on the rear steps of a building in the 7000 block of South Stony Island Avenue about 6:25 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

He walked into the alley, and an unknown person fired from the north end shot him in the right thigh and lower back, police said.

Anderson, of the 7200 block of South Bennett Avenue, was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital at 8:33 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

No one was in custody Friday morning as Area South detectives investigated.

--Sun-Times Media Wire