Leroy Griffin | Homicide Watch Chicago

Steven Blanchard charged with murder in 2013 Chatham shooting death of Leroy Griffin

Michael Lansu — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 08:51:13 -0600

Steven Blanchard / Photo from Cook County Sheriff's office

BY BRIAN SLODYSKO
Chicago Sun-Times

A third man was charged Sunday in the December 2013 slaying of Leroy Griffin, who was beaten then shot in the head by rival gang members outside a Chatham gas station.

Steven Blanchard, 26, who was charged with first-degree murder, is accused of being the triggerman who killed Griffin. He was ordered held without bail during a brief appearance before Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil.

Blanchard was in an SUV with six other people on Dec. 21, 2013, when someone spotted Griffin, 19, and a friend outside a gas station near the 7900 block of South Lafayette Avenue, according to authorities.

The group spilled out of the SUV and started beating Griffin, Assistant State’s Attorney LaShunda Cooperwood said. Meanwhile, Blanchard chased after Griffin’s friend, who sprinted away from the gas station. Blanchard fired shots at the friend but headed back to the gas station when he didn’t hit him.

As Blanchard walked back to join his group, he saw Griffin running toward him, Cooperwood said. He took aim and fired a single shot, striking Griffin in the head.

Blanchard, of the 1500 block of East 72nd Street, then rejoined the group, which fled in the SUV, authorities said.

Griffin, of the 7500 block of South Langley Avenue, was pronounced dead a short time later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Lamont Jackson, 24, and Louis Smith, 25, also were charged with murder in Griffin’s death in December 2014.

Parts of the attack were captured by surveillance cameras, though the shooting itself was not, prosecutors said.

Blanchard confessed to shooting Griffin when he was questioned, prosecutors said.

Louis Smith charged with murder in 2013 Chatham shooting death of Leroy Griffin

Michael Lansu — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 14:06:41 -0600

Louis Smith / Photo from Chicago Police

A second man has been charged with murder after authorities said he was part of a group that beat a man then shot him dead in the Chatham neighborhood.

On Dec. 21, 2013, Leroy Griffin was walking with an acquaintance to a gas station near 79th and State streets when a green vehicle stopped nearby, said Assistant State’s Attorney Beth Novy.

Lamont Jackson, 24, Louis Smith, 25, and five others exited the vehicle and approached Griffin and his acquaintance because they believed the pair were members of a rival gang responsible for killing a friend, Novy said.

The group beat Griffin while a gunman chased his acquaintance, who escaped by hiding in a gangway, Novy said.

The gunman then returned to where the group was beating Griffin and shot him once in the head, Novy said.

Griffin, 18, of the 7500 block of South Langley Avenue, was pronounced dead a short time later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

After the shooting, the group got back in the green vehicle and fled the scene, Novy said.

Jackson was arrested this week and admitted to being part of the beating, Novy said. Video footage also allegedly shows him exiting the green vehicle prior to the attack.

Jackson was charged with first-degree murder and Judge James Brown ordered him held on $1 million bond during a Thursday court hearing.

Prosecutors noted that Jackson was previously convicted of battery in 2006 and unlawful use of a weapon in 2013.

On Friday, police announced that Smith, of the 6700 block of South Lafayette Avenue, was also been charged with first-degree murder, murder while committing another forcible felony and mob action.

The other attackers have not yet been charged for the killing.

-- Homicide Watch Chicago and Sun-Times Media Wire

Lamont Jackson charged with murder in 2013 Chatham shooting death of Leroy Griffin

Michael Lansu — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 14:06:45 -0600

Lamont Jackson / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Lamont Jackson was ordered held on $1 million bond Thursday after prosecutors claim he was part of a group that beat Leroy Griffin then shot him dead in the Chatham community.

On Dec. 21, 2013, Griffin was walking with an acquaintance to a gas station near 79th and State streets when a green vehicle stopped nearby, said Assistant State's Attorney Beth Novy.

Jackson and six others exited the vehicle and approached Griffin and his acquaintance because they believed the pair were members of a rival gang responsible for killing a friend, Novy said.

The group beat Griffin while a gunman chased his acquaintance, who escaped by hiding in a gangway, Novy said.

The gunman then returned to where the group was beating Griffin and shot him once in the head, Novy said.

Griffin, 18, of the 7500 block of South Langley Avenue, was declared dead a short time later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

After the shooting, the group got back in the green vehicle and fled the scene, Novy said.

Jackson, 24, was arrested this week and admitted to being part of the beating, Novy said. Video footage also allegedly shows him exiting the green vehicle prior to the attack.

Jackson was charged with first-degree murder and Judge James Brown ordered him held on $1 million bond during a Thursday court hearing.

Prosecutors noted that Jackson was previously convicted of battery in 2006 and unlawful use of a weapon in 2013.

The other attackers have not yet been charged for the killing.

-- Contributing: Rummana Hussain

WEEK IN REVIEW: 10 men killed in citywide shootings

Michael Lansu — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 08:59:39 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Ten men were shot to death throughout the city last week.

The most recent murder happened when 18-year-old Leroy Griffin was fatally shot in the 7900 block of South Lafayette Avenue about 7 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Several people got out of an SUV and opened fire on Griffin -- striking him in the head, authorities said. Detectives are investigating if the shooting was gang related, police said.

Griffin, of the 7500 block of South Langley Avenue, died about 20 minutes later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

In the Belmont Crain neighborhood, Luciano Torres was in an SUV in the 4800 block of West Deming Place when a gunman in another SUV shot him in the head about 4:30 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Torres, 28, of the 2300 block of North Newland Avenue, died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center about 12 hours later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Friday, Jeffrey Anderson was shot to death outside his Northwest Side home in the 2800 block of North Talman Street, authorities said.

Anderson, 28, was standing outside his home when two males approached on foot and shot him in the shoulder about 9:50 p.m., authorities said. Anderson went inside his home, collapsed and was dead at the scene.

On Thursday, Barnett Adams was shot to death during an argument in the 5600 block of West Chicago Avenue.

Adams, 33, was arguing with another man in the street when the man pulled out a gun and shot Adams in the shoulder and leg about 5:10 p.m., authorities said.

Adams, of the 600 block of North Waller Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital about an hour later, according to the medical examiner's office.

In the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood, 19-year-old Andre Hunter was shot multiple times and found on a sidewalk in the 7700 block of South Stewart Avenue about 2:40 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Hunter, of the 7900 block of South Princeton Avenue, died about an hour later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the medical examiner’s office.

In the South Shore community, 74-year-old Willie Cooper was found shot multiple times in a vehicle in the 7000 block of South East End Avenue about 4:45 a.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Cooper, of the of 6800 block of South Crandon Avenue, was dead on the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

About an hour later, Chicago blues musician Eric "Guitar" Davis was shot dead inside a vehicle three blocks north in the 6700 block of South East End Avenue, authorities said.

Davis, 41, of the 14200 block of South Eggleston Avenue in Riverdale, was pronounced dead at the scene, the medical examiner’s office said.

Chicago blues legend Linsey Alexander said Davis was hanging out at North Side blues bar Kingston Mines Wednesday night.

In the Gage Park neighborhood, 27-year-old Salvador Diaz had just exited a vehicle in the 5300 block of South Talman Avenue when a gunman walked up and shot him about 2:50 a.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Diaz tried to run away, but eventually collapsed in a nearby alley, authorities said. Emergency crews found Diaz, of the 500 block of South Spaulding Avenue, in an alley and later he died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, authorities said.

The five homicides on Thursday were the most in a single day since Oct. 9.

On Tuesday, 16-year-old Christopher Ramirez was shot in the 2600 block of South Trumbull Avenue about 10:30 p.m., authorities said.

Ramirez was walking when a male exited the passenger side of a van and shot in the head, authorities said.

Ramirez, of the 2800 block of South Trumbull Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital at 8:39 p.m. Wednesday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Monday, 17-year-old Ladarius Brisco was found shot in the head in the 8200 block of South Champlain Avenue about 1 p.m., authorities said.

Brisco, of the 8200 block of South Vernon Avenue, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County Wednesday afternoon, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Leroy Griffin shot to death in Chatham

Michael Lansu — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 13:05:33 -0600

Leroy Griffin was fatally shot Saturday night in the Chatham neighborhood.

Griffin, 18, was in the 7900 block of South Lafayette Avenue when an SUV approached about 7 p.m. Saturday, authorities said. Several people got out of the SUV and opened fire -- striking Griffin in the head.

Griffin, of the 7500 block of South Langley Avenue, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died at 7:20 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Area South detectives are investigating if the shooting is gang related.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire