Robert Howard Jr. | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: Argument over rowdy party led to fatal shooting of Robert Howard Jr.

Jeff Mayes — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 11:39:07 -0600

By RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Kevin Mason | Chicago Police

Robert Howard Jr. had called police to complain about his next-door neighbor’s party, and the revelers drinking and getting high in the hallway.

Officers came to the University Village apartment that night on Jan. 26 but didn’t see anybody, according to a Chicago Police report.

They told the 62-year-old Howard to call them back if the raucous party-goers came back and went back to their squad car to look for them.

Five minutes later the officers were alerted about shots being fired at the building in the 1000 block of West Maxwell.

When they went back, they found Howard, a veteran of the armed forces, dead, face-down on the ground.

Robert Howard Jr. and Apollo

On Friday, the alleged shooter, Kevin Mason was ordered held without bond for Howard’s murder.

Mason, 22, was a guest at the party held by Howard’s neighbor, who had an ongoing dispute with Howard, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney April Gonzales said.

Howard was killed after police arrived to break up the party on the third floor of the complex.

Some of the party-goers, including Mason, had left the gathering, and Howard ended up fighting with his neighbor in the hallway, Gonzales said.

The neighbor punched Howard in the face and the two began scuffling, Gonzales said.

Meanwhile, Mason and two others were buzzed back into the building, Gonzales said.

When Howard fell to the ground, the neighbor opened the stairwell and let Mason and the other two into the hallway, Gonzales said.

Mason then started hitting Howard’s head with a butt of a gun before shooting him in the abdomen, Gonzalez said.

After Howard fell to the ground, Mason fired twice, striking Howard in the back and head, Gonzales said.

Video surveillance cameras at the building capture Mason leaving, Gonzales said.

Mason allegedly told someone minutes later that he shot Howard in the stomach and “had to finish him off.”

Three people also saw Mason beat Howard, and two people saw him pull the trigger, Gonzales said.

Police were told that a handgun was found in the laundry room of a nearby building in the apartment complex, Gonzales said.

There, they recovered a 9mm semi-automatic handgun loaded with two live rounds.

Preliminary tests show the cartridge casings from the shooting match the recovered weapon, Gonzales said.

Mason, of the 1300 block of Blue Island, was arrested earlier this week.

Charneise SIlas | Chicago Police

Three days after Howard’s death, authorities charged the neighbor, 45-year-old Charneise Silas, with felony aggravated battery in connection with the case.

She was ordered held on a $250,000 bond.

Second person charged in connection with fatal shooting of Vietnam vet Robert Howard Jr. in University Village

Jeff Mayes — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 09:24:45 -0600

Kevin Mason | Chicago Police

A second person has been charged with the fatal January shooting of Vietnam veteran Robert Howard Jr. in the University Village neighborhood.

Kevin Mason, 22, faces one count of first-degree murder for the Jan. 26 shooting death of the 62-year-old Howard in the 1000 block of West Maxwell Street, according to Chicago Police. Howard was found shot once in the head.

Police initially said the shooting might have been related to an earlier dispute with a neighbor.

Three days after Howard’s death, authorities charged a neighbor, 45-year-old Charneise Silas, with one felony count of aggravated battery. She was ordered held on a $250,000 bond.

Charneise SIlas | Chicago Police

Police said Silas was among an unspecified number of people who carried out the fatal shooting, and multiple persons of interest were being questioned.

Mason, of the 1300 block of Blue Island, is scheduled to appear in bond court Friday.

Howard was part of the VALOR program which pairs military veterans struggling with post traumatic stress disorder with animals that had been abused, neglected or used for fighting.

After his death, his dog Apollo was left homeless.

--Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Robert Howard Jr. and Apollo

Apollo needs new home after his rescuer, Vietnam veteran Robert Howard, was shot to death in University Village

Brittany Reyes — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 12:57:13 -0600

Robert Howard Jr. was a graduate of VALOR (Veterans Advancing Lives of Rescues). He was killed on Jan. 26 and is missed by loved ones, Safe Humane Chicago members, and his emotional support dog, Apollo.

By BRITTANY REYES
Homicide Watch Chicago

The death of Robert Howard Jr. left the dog he'd once rescued without a home and his best friend.

Howard, a 62-year-old Vietnam War veteran killed in a shooting in University Village on Jan. 26, was the proud owner of Apollo, a big, joyful puppy who was matched with Howard through Veterans Advancing the Lives of Rescues (VALOR).

VALOR is an 8-week Safe Humane Chicago program that pairs military veterans struggling with post traumatic stress disorder with animals that had been abused, neglected or used for fighting.

After struggling with PTSD since his three-year tour in Vietnam from 1970-73, Howard began participating in VALOR in early 2015. His experience with the program was so positive that he decided to adopt a dog for himself, according to Cynthia Bathurst, the organization's executive director.

In April 2015, Howard acquired Rugby, an 8-month old puppy who'd been rescued through Chicago Animal Care and Control. Howard renamed his new companion Apollo, and documented their experience together in a feature for The Unexpected Pit Bull's 2016 annual calendar.

By completing the VALOR program, Howard explained how he was able to supplant his "anger, isolation, and depression" with "comfort, joy, and peace" through working with animals.

"I am a veteran that suffers from PTSD and I am a disabled Vietnam combat veteran," Howard wrote. "By heaven's grace, I have found Apollo."

But the dog was left homeless after Howard was found with a multiple gunshot wounds to the head about 6:40 p.m. Jan. 26 in the 1000 block of West Maxwell, the block where he lived, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Police said the shooting might have been related to an earlier dispute he had with a neighbor.

After the murder, police notified the Safe Humane Chicago, and Apollo was immediately taken in and cared for by the rescue staff.

While the organization works to find a new home for the dog, Bathurst said the 17-month old puppy is still waiting for Howard to return.

"Whenever he sees anyone with Robert's build, he is eager to meet with them, but then just keeps looking," Bathurst said.

"I wish this kind of senseless tragedy did not exist. I am so sorry, Robert, that this happened to you, your family, your friends. I am so sorry that Apollo no longer has his beloved companion."

One person, 45-year-old Charneise Silas, has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of her neighbor, and police say more arrests may follow,

Silas is aggravated battery and is being held on a $250,000 bond at the Cook County Jail. She is due back in court Thursday.

Police said she is among an unspecified number of people who carried out the fatal shooting, and multiple persons of interest were being questioned.

WEEK IN REVIEW: At least 21 people die from violence in Chicago as shooting numbers continue to spike

Jeff Mayes — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 16:00:16 -0600

By JEFF MAYES
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

At least 21 people died from violence last week in Chicago, as shooting and murder totals continue to soar in the new year. One of the fatal shootings may be ruled self-defense after a man was killed while allegedly breaking into a home and attacking a woman. ANother man was also shot, this time by Chicago Police, while allegedly committing a home invasion, leading to murder charges against an accomplice..

January ended with a marked spike in Chicago gun violence compared to a year ago, with more than double the number of shootings and a 75 percent uptick in murders, according to statistics released by Chicago Police on Monday.

The city logged 292 gunshot victims in 242 separate shooting incidents from Jan. 1-31, police said. That’s an increase from 136 victims in 119 shootings during the same period last year.

Police also reported 51 murders so far this year, a jump from 29 last January. Detectives have solved 14 murders, including eight from 2016 and six from prior years, police said.

One of this week's murders may have been justified, according to police. A woman fatally shot a man who broke into her home and beat her early Sunday in Woodlawn.

About 5:15 a.m., Reginald Brown broke into the home in the 400 block of East 62nd Street and began to beat the woman who lived there, according to police. The 28-year-old woman was able to grab a handgun and shot the man to death during the struggle.

Brown, 30, was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:35 a.m. An autopsy showed he died of a gunshot wound to the chest.

Police said the woman knew the man and the incident was domestic-related. The woman has a valid FOID card and no charges were expected to be filed in the shooting.

A man and teenage boy were found with gunshot wounds in a vehicle that had crashed early Sunday in the Irving Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side. The vehicle was northbound in the 3700 block of North California about 5:15 a.m. when it struck a planter, according to police.

The driver, identified as 21-year-old Alan Garcia; and a 16-year-old passenger identified as Roberto Sanchez, were both taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where they later died. Both had suffered gunshot wounds in addition to injuries caused by the crash.

Garcia, of National City, California, died of a gunshot wound to the head and his death was ruled a homicide, according to an autopsy. Sanchez, of the 2900 block of North Elston, died of blunt force injuries to the torso from the crash, with multiple gunshot wounds listed as a contributing factor.

A 34-year-old man was fatally shot late Saturday in the West Side Humboldt Park neighborhood. Floyd Hodges was walking on the sidewalk about 10:45 p.m. in the 1100 block of North Springfield when two people approached him, according to police and the medical examiner's office. One person took out a gun and shot him multiple times before the suspects ran away.

Hodges was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced died. An autopsy found he died of multiple gunshot wounds.

DeMorrow Stephens was found shot to death in the West Garfield Park neighborhood early Saturday. Officers responding to a call of shots fired about 2:55 a.m. in the 0–100 block of North Kilbourn found the 26-year-old lying on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds, according to police.

Stephens was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:12 a.m., according to the medical examiner's office. He lived in the 900 block of North Waller. An autopsy found he died of multiple gunshot wounds.

A 19-year-old man was shot to death in West Englewood early Saturday, police said.

Officers found Damon Allen Jr. lying on the ground in the 5900 block of South Bishop about 1:05 a.m. He was shot in the head and chest.

Allen, who lived in the 1400 block of North Central, was taken to St. Bernard Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.

Martice White was killed in a shooting in the Austin neighborhood Friday evening. The 20-year-old was standing outside in the 5100 block of West Division at 6:21 p.m. when someone walked up behind him and opened fire, according to police and the medical examiner's office. The shooter then ran away.

White suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the back, and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died. An autopsy found he died of multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was ruled a homicide.

A 61-year-old man died Thursday after he was assaulted in an elevator in the Rogers Park neighborhood about a week earlier.

At 11:45 p.m. Jan. 23, Algie Ferguson was arguing with 45-year-old Phalyon McFarthing in an elevator in the 6800 block of North Sheridan Road when McFarthing hit, kicked and sodomized Ferguson, according to the medical examiner’s office and police.

Ferguson, of the 6800 block of North Sheridan Road, was taken to Presence Saint Francis Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6:43 p.m. Thursday, authorities said. An autopsy found he died from complications from multiple injuries sustained during an assault, and his death was ruled a homicide.

McFarthing, of the 1500 block of West Pratt Boulevard, was charged Jan. 25 with aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm, attempted murder in the first degree and criminal sexual assault, all felonies, police said. He is being held without bond.

Illinois Institute of Technology student Jermiron “Jay” Morris was beaten to death by another student on the school’s Bronzeville campus early Thursday, police said and the school said.

Morris, 36, and the another student were returning to campus early Thursday when they got into a fight, according to police and a statement on IIT’s website. Morris was found lying on the ground with blood and trauma to his face at 5 a.m. in the 3000 block of South Wabash, police said. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The other student,43-year-old man, Carlos Wilson, faces first-degree murder charges for the attack and was ordered held without bond.

A 71-year-old man was found beaten to death Wednesday afternoon in his Albany Park neighborhood home. Officers conducting a well-being check about 2 p.m. at a home in the 4800 block of North Ridgeway found Allen R. Levin lying on the ground with visible signs of trauma to the head, neck and body, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Levin, who lived in the home, was dead at the scene, authorities said. An autopsy found he died of multiple injuries suffered in an assault.

Robert Howard was found shot to death Tuesday evening in the University Village neighborhood. The 62-year-old was found about 6:40 p.m. in the 1000 block of West Maxwell with a gunshot wound to the head, according to police and the medical examiner's office.

Police said the shooting might have been related to an earlier dispute he had with a neighbor, and two days later, Charneise Silas, 45, was charged with one felony count of aggravated battery for the attack, according to police. She was ordered held on a $250,000 bond.

A 33-year-old man was killed in a drive-by shooting Tuesday afternoon in Austin. Cory D. Brown was outside in the 0-100 block of South Leamington about 4 p.m. when a vehicle drove by and someone inside fired at him, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Brown, of the 5000 block of West Washington, was taken to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4:40 p.m. An autopsy found he died of a gunshot wound to the chest, and his death was ruled a homicide.

A 76-year-old man was found shot to death Tuesday afternoon in the Riverdale neighborhood on the Far South Side. Officers conducted a well-being check in the 13200 block of South Riverdale about noon and discovered Claude Cannon with gunshot wounds to his chest and buttocks, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

He was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:22 p.m., authorities said. Cannon lived in the same block as the shooting.

Senclair Hill was shot to death Monday night in the Washington Heights neighborhood on the Far South Side.

Officers responded to a call of a car crash and shots fired in the 10600 block of South Sangamon Street about 8:22 p.m. They found the 25-year-old with a gunshot wound to the back in the driver’s seat of a vehicle that had crashed into a parked car, police said.

Hill was taken to Roseland Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the medical examiner's office. He lived in the 10700 block of South Church.

Nineteen-year David Martinez was killed and a 16-year-old boy wounded in a shooting Monday evening in Little Village. The two were in the 3000 block of South Kedvale Avenue at 5:01 p.m. when someone walked up, pulled a gun and fired shots, police said.

Martinez was shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:14 p.m., according to the medical examiner's office. He lived in the 2700 block of South Komensky. The 16-year-old was shot in the back and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where his condition was stabilized, police said.

A man was fatally shot in the Pullman neighborhood on the Far South Side Monday.Torrance Dortch, 39, was shot in the 1000 block of East 100th Place at 4:37 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office.

Dortch, of the 1000 block of East 100th Place, suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead at 5:56 p.m.

A 19-year-old man was shot and killed Monday morning in Englewood. Davon Horace was found unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds in the 7200 block of South May at 11:24 a.m., according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Horace, of the 6700 block of South Throop, was taken to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:13 p.m.

One man was killed and another wounded Monday morning in a shooting along a CPS Safe Passage Route in West Englewood.

Trevon Stiger, 20; and an 18-year-old man were walking in the 2000 block of West Marquette at 9:18 a.m. when a gunman walked up and fired shots, then ran away, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Stiger, of the 2100 block of West 68th Place, was shot in the abdomen and pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. The 18-year-old was shot in the face and was taken in serious condition to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

The shooting happened along Harper High School’s Safe Passage Route.

A 64-year-old man died Wednesday, five months after he was assaulted in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. Lester Weatherspoon died at 5:05 a.m. at RML Specialty Hospital in Hinsdale, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Weatherspoon was beaten up about 4 p.m. Aug. 30, 2015, in the 2700 block of West Harrison, according to police. An autopsy Thursday found he died of complications of blunt force injuries to the head suffered in that assault, according to the medical examiner’s office. His death was ruled a homicide.

Also on Tuesday, Ricardo Villanueva died in a suburban care facility, more than four years after being shot in Chicago Lawn.

When he was 31, Villanueva was shot in the 6000 block of South Francisco on Dec. 10, 2011, according to the medical examiner’s office and police. He suffered gunshot wounds to the neck, elbow and leg; and was initially taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for treatment, police said.

Tuesday, at age 35, Villanueva died of injuries from that shooting in the Brentwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Burbank, according to the medical examiner's office.
Breanna Patterson has been charged with murder after Charles Smith was shot by police during an alleged home invasion early Sunday in the former home of Bulls star Derrick Rose in West Englewood.

Patterson, 20, was charged with first-degree murder and home invasion with discharge of a firearm, according to police. Patterson and Clark allegedly broke into a home in the 7300 block of South Paulina about 4:40 a.m., authorities said.

Englewood District officers responded to calls of a home invasion and were met by an “armed offender” who opened fire, and cops shot back, police said.

The 29-year-old Smith was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:40 a.m.

Woman charged in fatal shooting of neighbor, Robert Howard, in University Village

Jeff Mayes — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 10:19:00 -0600

Charneise SIlas | Chicago Police

By MITCHELL ARMENTROUT
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

A woman has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of her neighbor, 62-year-old Robert Howard, on Tuesday in University Village. And police say more arrests may follow,

Charneise Silas, 45, faces one felony count of aggravated battery for the Tuesday attack in the 1000 block of West Maxwell, according to Chicago Police.

Howard was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head about 6:40 p.m. near his home on the block, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Police initially said the shooting might have been related to an earlier dispute Howard had with a neighbor.

Silas, who lives on the same block, was ordered held on a $250,000 bond by Judge Laura Marie Sullivan during a hearing Friday, according to Cook County Circuit Court records. She is due back in court Feb. 11.

Police said she is among an unspecified number of people who carried out the fatal shooting. Detectives were questioning multiple people of interest Thursday night.

62-year-old Robert Howard found shot to death near University Village home after dispute with neighbor

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 16:46:17 -0600

Robert Howard was found shot to death Tuesday evening in the University Village neighborhood.

The 62-year-old was found with a gunshot wound to the head about 6:40 p.m. in the 1000 block of West Maxwell, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner's office.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Howard lived in the same block as the shooting.

An autopsy found Howard died of multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was ruled a homicide, the medical examiner's office said.

Police said the shooting might have been related to an earlier dispute he had with a neighbor. Detectives are questioning at least two people of interest in connection with the shooting.

--Chicago Sun-Times Wire