Talal Aljohani | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: Abdullah Aljohani fatally stabbed brother Talal Aljohani in Albany Park apartment

Michael Lansu — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 18:32:10 -0500

Abdullah Aljohani / Photo from Chicago Police

BY REEMA AMIN
Sun-Times Media

Abdullah Aljohani was ordered held without bond Thursday after prosecutors claim he stabbed a relative to death early Sunday in their Albany Park home.

Aljohani, 27, was charged with first-degree murder in the early Sunday stabbing death of relative Talal Aljohani, authorities said.

Assistant State's Attorney Akash Vyas said a neighbor heard the men, who are "often referred to as brothers," fighting in their home in the 5000 block of North Harding Avenue about 4 a.m. Sunday.

The neighbor went to check on the brothers, but Abdullah Aljohani said everything was fine and shut the door before the neighbor could speak, Vyas said.

When the neighbor came back later, and Abdullah Aljohani said Talal Aljohani was using the bathroom even though the neighbor could see the bathroom was empty, Vyas said.

When the neighbor demanded to see 19-year-old Abdullah Aljohani, Abdullah Aljohani shut the door, Vyas said.

The neighbor then called 911, but when police arrived Abdullah Aljohani only opened the door slightly, said everything was fine and shut the door, Vyas said.

The officers tried knocking again for several minutes but no one responded, prosecutors said.

Officers then went to the back of the building and found the garage door, back gate and back door “wide open,” Vyas said.

The officers went inside and found Talal Aljohani stabbed to death on a mattress, Vyas said. Police recovered a knife next to his body.

By the time police found the body, Abdullah Aljohani had fled to a friend’s home, where he asked for money and clothing, Vyas said.

Abdullah Aljohani told the friend that “he was in trouble” and was running from the police, according to Vyas, who said noted Abdullah Aljohani left his passport at home.

Police issued a warrant for Abdullah Aljohani’s arrest and officers found him walking iwth his fiance's brother in the 4000 block of West Lawrence Avenue on Tuesday, Vyas said.

When spotted by police, Abdullah Aljohani attempted to run away but was arrested a short time later, according to Vyas, who said Abdullah Aljohani was wearing bloody clothing when arrested.

Vyas claimed Abdullah Aljohani admitted to his fiance’s brother that he cut Talal Aljohani with a knife.

Officers later found Talal Aljohani’s phone, wallet and an ID in the fiance’s brother’s bedroom, Vyas said.

A public defender said Abdullah Aljohani moved to the United States in 2013 from Saudi Arabia and has no intention to returning. He is enrolled at Northeastern Illinois University, where he is taking English classes.

Cook County Judge Peggy Chiampas ordered Abdullah Aljohani held without bond and issued a next court date of April 7.

-- Network Video Productions

Talal Aljohani fatally stabbed in Albany Park

Michael Lansu — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 10:25:11 -0500

Talal Aljohani was stabbed to death in the Albany Park neighborhood early Sunday.

Officers found 19-year-old Aljohani stabbed inside an apartment in the 5000 block of North Harding Avenue about 4 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Aljohani, who lived on the block, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office, which determined he died from a stab wound to the abdomen and ruled his death a homicide.

Police said Aljohani was stabbed during an argument with a family member.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire, Network Video Productions

WEEK IN REVIEW: Eight killed throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 09:02:30 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Six men were fatally shot, one man was stabbed to death and a baby had her neck slashed with a saw in slayings throughout Chicago last week.

Four of the slayings happened over the weekend, when at least 24 other people were shot and wounded.

The most recent killings happened when 23-year-old Andre Chatman and 28-year-old Carey Hollis were shot while in a car in the 5800 block of West North Avenue in the Austin community about 3:45 p.m. Sunday, police said.

After the shooting, the wounded driver continued east and crashed about a block away, police said.

Chatham and Hollis, who both lived in the 1000 block of North Mayfield Avenue, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

In the Portage Park neighborhood, 16-year-old Giovanni Matos was shot in the head in the 5800 block of West Patterson Avenue during an argument with a group in a passing vehicle about 12:50 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Matos, of the 5500 block of West Henderson Street, died hours later at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center hours later, according to the medical examiner's office.

In the Albany Park neighborhood, 19-year-old Talal Aljohani was found stabbed to death in his apartment in the 5000 block of North Harding Avenue about 4 a.m. Sunday, authorities said. Police called the attack domestic related.

On Monday, police found 26-year-old Larry Hardin Jr. shot on a sidewalk in the 9200 block of South Ada Street in the Washington Heights community about 7:35 p.m., authorities said.

Hardwin, of the 1400 block of East 90th Street, was shot in the head and died at the scene, authorities said.

In the Roseland community, 77-year-old Odell Branch was fatally shot in the 200 block of West 105th Street about 6:30 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Branch was watching TV with his 5-year-old great-grandson when bullets came through a window, authorities said.

Branch was shot in the head and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, authorities said. The 5-year-old was shot in the arm and also taken to Christ Medical Center, police said.

Branch’s granddaughter and 2-year-old great-granddaughter were also wounded as they attempted to enter a vehicle when the gunfire erupted, police said.

Nobody has been charged for the killing, but on Sunday police released surveillance video of the potential suspects.

In the Uptown neighborhood, 20-year-old Troy Phelon was shot in the chest in the 900 block of West Agatite Avenue about 2:55 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Phelon, of the 300 block of South Kedzie Avenue, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The killing started when 52-year-old Manuela Rodriguez killed her 7-month-old granddaughter, Rose Herrera, in the 2800 block of South Avers Avenue in the Little Village neighborhood about 9:30 a.m. Monday, prosecutors said.

Rodriguez allegedly stuffed a sock deep down her 7-month-old granddaughter’s throat, bashed the infant’s head with a metal pipe wrench and used a motorized circular saw to slash the baby’s neck, chest and shoulder, prosecutors said.

Rodriguez, who cut her own throat, allegedly admitted to paramedics and detectives that she viciously attacked Rose Herrera because she wanted her to stop crying while she babysat, prosecutors said. She was charged with first-degree murder and was ordered held without bond.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 60 Chicago deaths in 2015 a homicide.