Michael Flournoy III | Homicide Watch Chicago

Second man charged with 2014 slaying of former Simeon football star Michael Flournoy

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 16:15:40 -0500

By RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Kevin Hines | Chicago Police

A second man has been charged with the 2014 murder of popular Simeon High School football player Michael Flournoy III.

Kevin Hines joined Kenneth Jackson and a third person in accosting the 16-year-old after the teen or his friend made comments to Jackson’s 12-year-old daughter, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Marilyn Salas-Wail said.

Witnesses had heard Jackson yelling at Flournoy at a South Side store earlier on April 5, 2014, over the alleged comments.

Jackson left the area of the 1000 block of East 93rd Street but returned 90 minutes later with Hines and the other person, Salas-Wail said.

Kenneth Jackson | Chicago Police

The three got out of Jackson’s girlfriend’s car and started hitting Flournoy before getting back into the car, Salas-Wail said.

When they got out again, Hines was holding an object covered with a bag, Salas-Wail said.

Jackson and his other friend went back to Flournoy and struck the boy again. Then, Hines shot Flournoy in the head, the prosecutors said.

The three got back into the car and drove off.

Hines, 35, of the 4700 block of South Prairie, has admitted to his role in the shooting, Salas-Wail said. He allegedly told police he used Jackson’s gun to shoot Flournoy.

A police “pod” video recorded the incident and shows Jackson’s girlfriend’s car at the scene of the shooting, prosecutors said.

Michael Flournoy III | photo provided

Judge Peggy Chiampas on Thursday ordered Hines held without bond.

Jackson was ordered held on $1 million bond for the murder two years ago.

Flournoy played defensive back and wide receiver on the sophomore football team at Simeon.

His family said he thought about becoming a firefighter, but had his sights set on a career as an architect.

“He was a great kid around the school, always helping people out," Simeon football coach Dante Culbreath said at the time of Flournoy’s death. "He was a very soft-spoken young man, you would have to tell him to speak up just to hear him talk. Just a good kid."

Prosecutor: Kenneth Jackson argued with Simeon football player Michael Flournoy before having him killed

Michael Lansu — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:50:32 -0500

Kenneth Jackson / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Kenneth Jackson didn’t like the alleged comments Simeon High School football player Michael Flournoy made to his daughter.

So, he recruited his two friends and came back to the South Side store where he argued with Flournoy earlier, Cook County prosecutors said.

Jackson and his friends started punching and kicking the 16-year-old in the head and body that night on April 5, Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Novy said.

When Flournoy fell to the ground at the store in the 1000 block of East 93rd Street, one of Jackson’s friends shot Flournoy in the head with the weapon he retrieved just before the fight, Novy said.

It was Jackson who had driven his friend to the location where he got the gun, Novy said.

Jackson and the two others fled in Jackson’s girlfriend’s car following the fatal shooting, Novy said.

Video surveillance shows the car at the scene of the crime, Novy said.

Jackson, 31, a father of five, was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bail Thursday on murder and mob action charges.

He allegedly admitted arguing with Flournoy, telling his cohorts and driving them to the store, knowing that one of the friends had a gun.

Jackson, of the 100 block of East 59th Street, was in Cook County Jail for an unrelated drug case when he was recently arrested for Flournoy’s murder, according to court records.

The two other men have not been charged.

Family, friends and neighbors all described Flournoy as an ambitious, soft-spoken kid with a good head on his shoulders who steered clear of drugs and gangs. He had an interview for a summer job at Navy Pier scheduled just a few days after he was killed, according to his grandfather, Samuel Woods.

The day Flournoy died, Woods said, the teen was on his way to pick up chips at the store on 93rd when he got into a fight with some other boys.

“They jumped on him,” Woods said at the time. “Beat him up. And then they shot him in the face.”

Woods said he used to drive Flournoy to the North Side to look at buildings. The boy loved cars, thought about becoming a firefighter, but really wanted to be an architect, Woods said.

Flournoy also played defensive back and wide receiver on the sophomore football team at Simeon.

“He was a great kid, around the school always helping people out. He was a very soft spoken young man, you would have to tell him to speak up just to hear him talk. Just a good kid,” Simeon football coach Dante Culbreath said at the time of Flournoy’s death.

-- Contributing: Jordan Owen

Kenneth Jackson charged in shooting death of Simeon football player Michael Flournoy

Michael Lansu — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 11:16:34 -0500

Kenneth Jackson / Photo from Chicago Police

BY JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times

A man has been charged with the shooting death of a Simeon Career Academy sophomore and football player who was gunned down two miles from his Chatham home in April.

Kenneth K. Jackson, 31, is charged with first-degree murder, murder, and mob action, all felonies, in connection with the death of 16-year-old Michael Flournoy III, according to a statement from Chicago Police.

Flournoy, who lived in the 8000 block of South Evans Avenue, was shot just before 8 p.m. April 5 in the 1000 block of East 93rd Street and died at the scene, officials said.

Family, friends and neighbors all described Flournoy as an ambitious, soft-spoken kid with a good head on his shoulders who steered clear of drugs and gangs. He had an interview for a summer job at Navy Pier scheduled for just a few days after he was killed, according to his grandfather, Samuel Woods.

The day Flournoy died, Woods said, the teen was on his way to pick up chips at a store on 93rd when he got into a fight with some other boys.

“They jumped on him,” Woods said at the time. “Beat him up. And then they shot him in the face.”

Woods said he used to drive Flournoy to the North Side to look at buildings. The boy loved cars, thought about becoming a firefighter, but really wanted to be an architect, Woods said.

Flournoy also played defensive back and wide receiver on the sophomore football team at Simeon.

-- Contributing: Jon Seidel, Michael O’Brien

Comment of the Day: "These fools will shoot you in cold blood and go home, eat dinner and go to bed"

Emily Brosious — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 16:30:51 -0500

Simeon High School football player Michael Flournoy III was shot and killed this month in the Burnside community. Reader "KJ" posted this about the shooting:

"Parents please get your kids...they just don't care about the people they hurt. These fools will shoot you in cold blood and go home eat dinner and go to bed. I feel so bad for this family. God please cover them and hold them tight they need you!"

Simeon football player Michael Flournoy III fatally shot in Burnside community

LeeAnn Shelton — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 17:56:48 -0500

BY JON SEIDEL AND MICHAEL O’BRIEN
Chicago Sun-Times

The sobbing of another grieving family filled a Chatham apartment Sunday after Simeon Career Academy sophomore and football player Michael Flournoy III was shot to death two miles from home.

Flournoy, 16, who lived in the 8000 block of South Evans Avenue, was shot just before 8 p.m. Saturday in the 1000 block of East 93rd Street and died at the scene, officials said.

Flournoy’s grandfather, Samuel Woods, said the boy was his “best friend.”

“I saw Michael come in this world,” Woods said. “I kept him with me. I talked to him. We joked. We laughed. We played games on PlayStation. He was my friend. And I’m going to miss him.”

Family, friends and neighbors all described Flournoy as an ambitious, soft-spoken kid with a good head on his shoulders who steered clear of drugs and gangs. On Tuesday, he planned to interview for a summer job at Navy Pier, Woods said.

“That’s all he kept talking about,” Woods said. “‘Grandad, I got a job.’”

But Flournoy knew about the danger lurking in the neighborhood, according to his grandfather. Just about a month ago, Woods said Flournoy was mugged on his way to a gas station a few blocks from home.

“They pressed the knife so hard in his belly it left a little hole,” Woods said. “And all they took from him was his cellphone and $5.”

Saturday, Woods said, Flournoy was on his way to pick up chips at a store on 93rd when he got into a fight with some other boys.

“They jumped on him,” Woods said. “Beat him up. And then they shot him in the face.”

By Sunday afternoon, a makeshift memorial marked the scene of Flournoy’s death outside St. Anthony’s Church. Mourners left stuffed animals, a balloon, and messages written on signs in black marker:

“Gone too soon,”

“God bless the family.”

“Pray for our children.”

Woods said he used to drive Flournoy to the North Side to look at buildings. The boy loved cars, thought about becoming a firefighter, but really wanted to be an architect, Woods said.

“He wanted to build something,” Woods said. “He felt he wanted to be one of the best.”

Flournoy also played defensive back and wide receiver on the sophomore football team at Simeon.

Area South detectives are investigating.