Sheldon McCraven | Homicide Watch Chicago

Family of man slain in Logan Square distributes flyers offering $1,000 reward

Michael Lansu — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 11:02:46 -0600

Sheldon McCraven / Family Photo

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Sheldon McCraven was found shot to death in Logan Square more than six weeks ago, and authorities are still searching for his killer.

On Saturday, about two dozen family and friends braved the snow to distribute flyers offering up to $1,000 cash reward for information leading to the arrest of McCraven's killer.

McCraven, 23, was found with a single gunshot wound in the 2600 block of North Sawyer Avenue on Oct. 29, authorities said. He died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center a short time later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Family said McCraven had to work that morning, and was found on the corner near his home in the 2600 block of North Sawyer Avenue -- just blocks from the Logan Square Blue Line station.

"He was always happy, smiling and energetic," McCraven's mother, Esmerelda Mendoza said. "He was very giving. He was always willing to help people."

Family members said McCraven was born and raised in Logan Square. He attended Gordon Tech High School, Roberto Clemente Community Academy and Wilbur Wright College.

He was currently working as a personal assistant for the Illinois Department of Human Services and had a second job as a sales associate, Mendoza said.

"He was far from lazy," said friend Randy Green. "He used to walk so fast we couldn't keep up with him."

McCraven enjoyed traveling, and had visited the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Canada and the Bahamas, Mendoza said.

He also enjoyed sports, video games and rap music, family said.

"He loved to sing. He didn't have a great voice, but he loved to sing his rap," Mendoza said.

Green, 24, said McCraven "loved music more than anything" and the pair used to hang out at the Illinois Centennial Monument where the crowd gathered Saturday to pass out flyers.

Wearing white "Justice For Sheldon" pins, the group broke split up to distribute the flyers to homes and businesses throughout Logan Square.

"Our efforts here aren't going to bring him back, but if I can save some other mother from this pain ... that is what I am here to do. To bring justice," Mendoza said.

Mendoza said she calls detectives every other day and feels like her son's death is not being investigated properly and is just another number.

Anyone with information about the shooting should call police or Cook County Crime Stoppers at (800) 535-STOP to give an anonymous tip.

Comment of the Day: "Please find it in your heart to contact the authorities to give Sheldon and his mother peace"

Michael Lansu — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 16:28:11 -0600

Sheldon McCraven was found shot dead Oct. 29 in Logan Square. Last week, Nancy asked anyone who knows the shooter to contact police.

RIP SHELDON. MY.HEART GOES OUT TO YOUR SWEET,LOVING MOTHER,BROTHER AND THE REST OF YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FRIENDS. I KNEW YOU FROM A BABY AND NOW YOU ARE ARE IN YOUR GRANDMOTHERS ARMS IN HEAVEN. YOU WILL BE DEARLY MISSED AND I HOPE THEY FIND WHO DID THIS TO YOU! YOUR MOTHER DESERVES THAT. IF ANYONE KNOWS ANYTHING, PLEASE FIND IT IN YOUR HEART TO CONTACT THE AUTHORITIES TO GIVE SHELDON AND HIS MOTHER PEACE. THANK YOU. Nancy and Family

WEEK IN REVIEW: 11 murdered throughout city last week

Michael Lansu — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 10:05:08 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Eleven people were murdered throughout the city last week, and a 12th person died after being shot last August on the South Side.

Despite the violent end to the month, there were fewer murders this October than in October 2011 and 2012. The month also had an eight-day period with only one killing.

November got off to a bloody start with five murders in the first three days.

The most recent murder happened when Lady Diana Sanabria, 31, was found with her throat slashed in her Brighton Park apartment in the 4400 block of South Richmond Street about 7 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Detectives are investigating if the death is domestic-related, police said.

In the Garfield Park neighborhood, Jason Jernigan was found shot in the chest and abdomen area in a vacant lot in the 3300 block of West Van Buren Street about 10:50 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Jernigan, 27, of the 3400 block of West Adams Street, was dead on the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Also in Garfield Park, Luis Villasenor was found shot in an alley in the 4300 block of West End Avenue about 5:25 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Villasenor, 27, of the 500 block of West 43rd Street, was shot in the chest and arm and died about 45 minutes later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, authorities said.

About 6:40 p.m. Saturday, 18-year-old Antonio Cooper was found shot in the chest and back on a West Englewood sidewalk in the 6300 block of South Hermitage Avenue, authorities said.

Cooper, of the 1700 block of West 64th Street, died at 7:23 p.m. at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the medical examiner's office. Police said detectives are investigating if the slaying was drug related.

On Friday, Saul Salgado was driving a vehicle that stopped at a red light in the 5600 block of West Fullerton Avenue when another vehicle pulled up and somebody inside opened fire about 4:05 a.m., authorities said.

Salgado, 21, of the 2100 block of North Laramie Avenue, was shot multiple times and died 35 minutes later at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to the medical examiner's office.

In the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, 25-year-old Marcus Gaiter was a passenger in a vehicle when he was shot in the 8600 block of South Morgan Street about 9:45 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

The driver was not wounded and drove Gaiter, of the 800 block of West 86th Place, to Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers in Evergreen Park, authorities said. He was declared dead at the hospital at 10:33 p.m. Thursday.

In the West Pullman neighborhood, Bobby Pruitt-Williams was standing in the 12100 block of South Union Avenue when he was shot in the head about 12:10 a.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Pruitt-Williams, 22, of the 500 block of West 125th Street, was dead on the scene when officers arrived, according to the medical examiner's office.

In Logan Square, Sheldon McCraven was shot in the back about 4:35 a.m. Tuesday in the 2600 block of North Sawyer Avenue, authorities said. The shooting happened about a block from the Illinois Centennial Monument and the Logan Square Blue Line stop.

McCraven, 23, who lived on the block, died a short time later at Illinois Masonic Medical Center, the medical examiner's office said.

On Monday, Gregory Daniel was found shot to death in his Austin apartment in the 5300 block of West Adams Street about 9:45 p.m., authorities said. Daniel, 48, had not been in contact with family or friends for days before he was found.

In the North Lawndale neighborhood, Steven Noble, 33, was found shot dead inside a vehicle in the 3300 block of West 16th Street about 2:55 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

In Englewood, police found 54-year-old Todd Coleman dead with multiple gunshot wounds near his home in the 1200 block of West 72nd Place about 5:25 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

Additionally, Lorenzo Feliciano died about 2:45 p.m. Sunday after being shot being shot several times outside his home in the 8500 block of South Oglesby Avenue on Aug. 14, authorities said.

Despite the bloody end to October, murders and shootings were down for the month, police said. There were 33 murders in October 2013, compared to 36 last year and 44 in 2011.

There were only 127 shootings in October -- down significantly from the 210 last year and 232 in 2011.

Sheldon McCraven shot dead in Logan Square

Michael Lansu — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 09:18:41 -0500

Sheldon McCraven was shot and killed early Tuesday in the Logan Square neighborhood.

McCraven, 23, was found with a single gunshot wound to the back about 4:35 a.m. Tuesday in the 2600 block of North Sawyer Avenue with a single gunshot wound to his chest, authorities said.

The shooting happened about a block from the Illinois Centennial Monument and the Logan Square Blue Line stop

McCraven, of the 2600 block of North Sawyer Avenue, was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead a short time later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Police investigate four new murders during bloody 24 hours

Michael Lansu — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 16:28:22 -0500

The city’s homicide count increased by four in less than 24 hours since Monday morning -- marking the most homicides the city has seen in a one-day period in more than two weeks.

The last time Chicago recorded more than four violent deaths in a 24-hour period was Oct. 9, when five people were murdered and an elderly woman was found stabbed to death in her North Side apartment.

The most recent murder occurred in the Logan Square neighborhood when 23-year-old Sheldon McCraven man was shot in the back about 4:35 a.m. Tuesday near his home in the 2600 block of North Sawyer Avenue, authorities said.

The shooting happened about a block from the Illinois Centennial Monument and the CTA Logan Square Blue Line station.

The Logan Square shooting was the latest murder in a bloody 24-hour span where four people were found shot to death.

Chicago Police spokesman Adam Collins said murders are down in 2013 compared to last year.

“While there has been less crime, fewer shootings and fewer murders in Chicago this year, there’s more work to be done and no one will rest until everyone in this city enjoys the same sense of safety,” Collins said via email.

The most recent wave of violence started when police found 54-year-old Todd Coleman dead with multiple gunshot wounds near his home in the 1200 block of West 72nd Street about 5:25 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

About 3 p.m. Monday, police found the body of 33-year-old Steven Noble inside a vehicle in the 3300 block of West 16th Street. He suffered a gunshot wound in his neck.

About 9:45 p.m. Monday, a friend found 48-year-old Gregory Daniel dead in his apartment in the 5300 block of West Adams Street with gunshot wounds to the head and abdomen.

Nobody has been charged for Monday and Tuesday’s murders.

“To reduce violence for the long-term, our state and our country need better laws to keep illegal guns out of our communities and punish the criminals who carry them,” Collins said.

-- Safiya Merchant, Sun-Times Media Wire