Marsalis Holman | Homicide Watch Chicago

Man sentenced to probation for accidentally shooting Marsalis Homan to death in their North Lawndale apartment

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 12:39:26 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

James Gonnigan | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.

A West Side man who accidentally fatally shot his close friend and roommate, Marsalis Homan, in the head last year in their North Lawndale apartment has been sentenced to probation.

James Gonnigan, 27, pleaded guilty to one felony count of involuntary manslaughter on July 15 before Judge Timothy Joseph Joyce, according to Cook County court records.

On Jan. 4, 2015, Gonnigan and the 20-year-old Homan were playing with a gun in the kitchen of their home in the 1300 block of South Kolin Avenue, authorities said.

Others in the house reported hearing the men talking and laughing before a single shot rang out, authorities said.

After the shooting, Gonnigan ran into a bedroom and told his girlfriend and her acquaintance that he’d shot Holman, authorities said. They found Holman lying in a pool of blood and someone called 911.

Marsalis Holman | Facebook

Holman suffered one gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital, authorities said.

At his bond hearing in 2015, Gonnigan’s lawyer described Gonnigan and Holman as “dear friends.”

“He was as close to a family member as you can have without being a blood relative,” the lawyer said.

Police found Gonnigan in the living room with five .38-caliber bullets and he was taken into custody. He told investigators he pointed the gun at Holman’s head and accidentally fired.

Judge Joyce sentenced Gonnigan to six months in the Cook County Jail on Monday, but Gonnigan was released after receiving credit for 681 days served in the jail, where he had been held since his arrest.

He was also sentenced to 30 months of probation, and ordered not to have contact with the victim’s family, according to court records.

Comment of the Day: "I know it really hurts that you lost your best friend, and now his blood is on your hand"

Michael Lansu — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 16:34:22 -0600

Authorities claimed James Gonnigan accidentally shot and killed his friend Marsalis Holman in their North Lawndale home on Jan. 4. Reader Tilden 2007 posted this about the killing:

I am really sorry this happen to you James, I know you are a good person and this was just a simple mistake. I know it really hurts that you lost your best friend, and now his blood is on your hand. My prayers are to you and to him and his family. I understand people make mistakes and this by far is the worst of them all. I pray that you do not have to live the rest of your life in jail for a simple mistake. I hope the Justice system see you for who you are and not as a killer. Mistake are made on a daily, and I know you have already learned from it. You lost your beloved friend and I am truly sorry for your lost. #2007 #Tilden #Chicago #JamesGonnigan #r.i.p

WEEK IN REVIEW: Six killed throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 09:02:08 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Five men were fatally shot and a woman was stabbed to death last week in Chicago.

The most recent killing happened when 35-year-old Michael Harrison was shot while standing on a sidewalk in the 0-100 block of South Kostner Avenue in the West Garfield Park neighborhood about 10:40 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Harrison, 35, of the 2700 block of West Jackson Boulevard, was shot in the abdomen and died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County at 12:29 a.m., authorities said. A 31-year-old man was also wounded, police said.

On Thursday, 51-year-old Chicago Carriage Cab driver Chinedu Madu was shot in the chest during a robbery in the 1200 block of South Albany Avenue in the North Lawndale community about 8:45 p.m., authorities said.

Madu, of the 500 block of East 33rd Place, died at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Tyrese Bell, 24, of the 1200 block of South Albany Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a peace officer, police said.

On Tuesday, Joe Bennett, Corie Williams and a 14-year-old boy were shot while were standing in the 2200 block of East 79th Street in the South Shore neighborhood when a gunman walked up and opened fire about 3:20 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Bennett, 19, of the 8000 block of South Chappel Avenue, was shot in the head and dead at the scene, authorities said.

Williams, 18, of the 7900 block of South East End Avenue, was shot in the head and died at Christ Medical Center, authorities said.

The 14-year-old boy was shot in both legs and taken to Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center for treatment, according to police.

On Monday, 24-year-old Larry Edwards was sitting in a parked car in the 9300 block of South Burnside Avenue in Chatham when a group exited an alley and at least one person opened fire about 11:40 p.m., authorities said.

Edwards, of the 1300 block of West 109th Street, was struck by the gunfire and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn about an hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The killing started about 9:45 p.m. Monday when Andre Brown fatally stabbed his 54-year-old mother at their home in the 3500 block of West 77th Street about 9:45 p.m. Monday because she kept “putting him down and telling him that he needed to get a girlfriend,” prosecutors said.

The woman, Damita Collins, died at the scene in her Ashburn home, authorities said. was the site director of Trumbull Park Head Start Program, part of the Ada S. McKinley schools.

Brown is being held on $1 million bond.

Additionally, 20-year-old Marsalis Holman died Tuesday after prosecutors said his friend James Gonnigan accidentally shot him dead Sunday night in their home in the 1300 block of South Kolin Avenue in the North Lawndale neighborhood. Gonnigan, 25, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and ordered held on $100,000 bond.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least eight Chicago deaths in 2015 a homicide.

Lawyer: James Gonnigan accidentally fatally shot 'dear friend' Marsalis Holman

Michael Lansu — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 14:30:02 -0600

James Gonnigan / Photo from Cook County sheriff's office

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

James Gonnigan was "playing" with Marsalis Holman when he accidentally fatally shot him in the head Sunday night at their North Lawndale home, prosecutors said.

On Sunday, Gonnigan took a gun from his home in the 1300 block of South Kolin Avenue and told his girlfriend that somebody tried to rob him, said Assistant State's Attorney Barry Quinn.

Others in the house reported hearing Gonnigan and Holman, 20, talking and laughing in the kitchen -- then a single gunshot, Quinn said.

After the shooting, Gonnigan ran into a bedroom and told his girlfriend and her acquaintance that he shot Holman, Quinn said. The group found Holman lying in a pool of blood and Gonnigan's uncle called 911, prosecutors said.

Holman, who also lived in the home, was shot in the left temple and had the bullet lodged in his brain, Quinn said. Paramedics took him to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was declared dead at 10:52 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Police found Gonnigan in the living room with five .38-caliber bullets and he was taken into custody, Quinn said. Gonnigan told detectives he and Holman were playing in the kitchen when he pointed the gun at Holman's head and accidentally shot him, prosecutors said.

Scene where Marsalis Holman was shot / Photo from NVP

Gonnigan, 25, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and appeared in court for a Wednesday bond hearing wearing blue jeans and a navy blue Chicago Cubs sweatshirt.

Gonnigan's lawyer described Gonnigan and Holman as "dear friends."

"He was as close to a family member as you can have without being a blood relative," Gonnigan's lawyer said.

The lawyer noted that Gonnigan, a lifelong Chicago resident, stayed on the scene and has a 2-year-old son and another child on the way. He is a high school graduate who attended college for a year and currently works at a food processing plant in southwest suburban Broadview.

On Wednesday, Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil ordered Gonnigan held on $100,000 bond and issued a next court date of Jan. 26.

Marsalis Holman killed in North Lawndale shooting

Michael Lansu — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 16:25:03 -0600

Scene where Marsalis Holman was shot / Photo from NVP

Marsalis Holman has died after being shot the North Lawndale neighborhood late Sunday.

Holman, 29, was shot in the head when an argument turned violent in the 1300 block of South Kolin Avenue about 10:50 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Holman, who lived on the block, was declared dead at 10:52 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire