Phillip Henderson | Homicide Watch Chicago

Suspect charged with fatal shooting in Woodlawn

Sun-Times Media Wire — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 13:09:53 -0500

A Chicago man has been charged with the murder of 27-year-old man who was shot to death Monday morning while standing on a Woodlawn neighborhood street corner.

Marquis Ceazer, 18, of the 6200 block of South Eberhart Avenue, was arrested Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting in the 600 block of East 62nd Street, according to Chicago Police.

A 16-year-old boy has also been charged in connection with the incident, police said.

Phillip Henderson of the 6200 block of South Langley was taken in serious condition with a gunshot wound to the chest to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he was pronounced dead at 10:38 a.m. Monday, according to the Cook County Medical Examnier’s office.

The victim was standing on the corner when a man approached and fired, police said.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

Marquis Ceazer

Aunt remembers slain nephew

Safiya Merchant — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 18:09:20 -0500

At the intersection of 62nd and Champlain, a tree is surrounded by empty liquor bottles and a poster board covers parts of its trunk. On a nearby fence, black and red balloons wave in front of more posters.

They are covered with the red and black hand-written words of those who remember 27-year-old Phillip Henderson, who was fatally shot Monday in the 600 block of East 62nd.

An unidentified man approached Henderson and fired, police said. He later died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

Henderson had just returned home from dropping his daughter and stepson off at school before quickly leaving the house to talk with friends.

His aunt, Diane Williams, was told that gunshots were heard in the Woodlawn neighborhood.

“I knew he was out and so I picked up my phone to call him and see where he was, but of course he didn’t answer,” Williams said, now knowing all too well why.

Williams had raised Henderson as her own child. Sitting on the sofa in her Woodlawn home, she described a kind-hearted, good father who loved his two daughters and stepson.

“He didn’t deserve to be shot down like he was,” she said.

Henderson loved sports, especially the Bears and the Bulls.

“He was a petite little fella and he could shoot the hoops,” Williams said.

Monday was not the first time Henderson had been shot. Williams said her nephew and one of his friends survived gunshot wounds about 10 years ago.

A hearing problem, the result of ear infections as a child, also proved troublesome throughout his life. His disability became a hindrance when looking for jobs. He had lost multiple hearing aids and was scheduled to get new ones, but died before receiving them.

Police said Henderson was a documented gang member and convicted felon.

But Williams said her nephew endured many struggles throughout his life, with his mother’s death two years ago an especially painful wound.

“When his mother passed, no one… he thought … had compassion for him, loved him,” Williams said. “He thought we was all against him.”

For Williams, her nephew was in the middle of turning his life around after all the heartache when he was fatally shot Monday morning.

He had participated in a program through the Cook County Jail to help him deal with anger, Williams said, proudly holding up the certificate that marked his successful completion.

He also joined a church, attending every Sunday.

“He was trying for a better life,” Williams said.

And though she misses her nephew dearly, Williams said she does not have to worry about him anymore.

“He is in heaven with his mom, and nobody have to antagonize him no more,” she said.

Contributing reporting by Jessica Koscielniak

Man fatally shot on street in Woodlawn

Sun-Times Media Wire — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 10:05:04 -0500

A man was fatally shot Monday morning a block away from his Woodlawn neighborhood home on the South Side.

The 27-year-old man was standing on the corner in the 600 block of East 62nd Street about 10 a.m. when a male approached and shot him, police News Affairs Officer Jose Estrada said.

Phillip Henderson, of the 6200 block of South Langley Avenue, was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County where he died 50 minutes later, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office said.

The motive of the shooting is unknown, Estrada said.

Area Central detectives are investigating.