Tevin Bryant | Homicide Watch Chicago

Mother: Tevin Bryant liked architecture, never stopped smiling

Will Hager — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 14:23:14 -0600

Tevin Bryant / Family Photo

BY WILL HAGER
Homicide Watch Chicago

Tevin Bryant never stopped smiling, even when he was upset, family said.

The 19-year-old was fatally shot about noon Jan. 29 inside an apartment in the 700 block of East 79th Street in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood, authorities said.

Bryant lived with his girlfriend in the 7900 block of South Greenwood Avenue and attended community college in Lake County, said his mother, Tasha Bryant.

He enjoyed architecture and admired Downtown skyscrapers like the Trump Tower and others in New York City, his mom said. She said Tevin had respect for older people and was more mature than his peers.

“He was a happy person,” Tasha Bryant, who lives in Hammond, Ind., said. “He smiled all the time. Even when he was upset, he would have a big Kool-Aid smile on his face.”

Tasha Bryant, said she spoke to her son over the phone the day before the shooting.

Authorities said Tevin Bryant entered an apartment with a group of people while a 20-year-old man waited outside. Tevin Bryant, who court records say was charged with a misdemeanor in 2012 in Lake County, was shot inside the apartment and the 20-year-old man was shot twice in the arm as he attempted to run away, authorities said.

Tevin Bryant was dead on the scene with a gunshot wound to the head, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Police said the 20-year-old man was initially taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in “stable” condition.

Tasha Bryant says she would be relieved if her son’s killer was caught.

“I want justice,” she said.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Four killed throughout the city, police rule two of the deaths self-defense

Michael Lansu — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 08:56:00 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Three men were fatally shot and a fourth was stabbed to death in homicides throughout Chicago last week.

Detectives ruled two of the killings self-defense and classified them as justified involuntary manslaughter, police said.

The most recent killing happened late Friday when 22-year-old Francisco Rufino was killed in the 1800 block of West 19th Street in the Pilsen neighborhood, authorities said.

Rufino and a 28-year-old man were in a westbound vehicle when they were shot about 10:30 p.m. Friday, authorities said. Rufino, of the 1800 block of West 17th Street, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County at 3:19 a.m. Saturday, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

The other man was taken to University of Illinois Hospital with a gunshot wound to the arm, police said.

Earlier in the Pilsen neighborhood, a resident fatally shot alleged burglar Mario Viramontes during a home invasion in the 2000 block of West 21st Street about 9:10 a.m. Friday, authorities said. Viramontes, 31, of the 2100 block of West Cermak Road, was dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Detectives determined the shooting was self-defense and ruled the killing a justified involuntary manslaughter, police said.

On Wednesday, 19-year-old Tevin Bryant was shot dead in an apartment in the 700 block of East 79th Street about noon, authorities said.

Bryant was inside the apartment with a group of people when somebody shot him in the head, authorities said. Bryant, of the 7900 block of South Greenwood Avenue, was dead on the scene, according to the medical examiner's office.

A 20-year-old man in Bryant's group was also wounded, police said.

The killing started last Tuesday when 38-year-old Danny Melendez was stabbed in the leg during a fight in the 2300 block of North Cicero Avenue, authorities said.

Melendez, of the 5300 block of West Irving Park Road, died at 1:20 a.m. Thursday at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the medical examiner's office.

Police initially took a 31-year-old woman into custody, but she was released without being charged after the death was also ruled self defense, police said.

Chicago Police reported 20 killings in January 2014, a 50 percent decrease from the first month of 2013. The decrease happened in a month that had 11 days of subzero temperature and was one of the coldest months in recent years.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office, which classifies killings different, ruled 23 Chicago deaths homicides. Three killings ruled involuntary manslaughter by Chicago Police, including Viramontes and Melendez.

In the other manslaughter case, 52-year-old Joeann Smith fatally shot 65-year-old relative Willie Smith at her South Shore home during a Jan. 8 argument about whether the gun would fire, authorities said. She was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm.

Tevin Bryant shot dead in Greater Grand Crossing apartment building

Michael Lansu — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 16:05:15 -0600

Tevin Bryant was killed in a Greater Grand Crossing area shooting that left another man wounded Wednesday afternoon.

Bryant was part of a group that entered an apartment building in the 700 block of East 79th Street about noon Wednesday, authorities said.

A 20-year-old man waited in the hallway while the rest of the group entered an apartment, police said.

Bryant was shot in the head inside the apartment and was dead on the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Police believe other members in the group may have shot Bryant.

The 20-year-old heard the shots and attempted to run away, police said. The gunmen exited the building and shot him in the elbow and forearm as he ran.

He was taken in “stable” condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, police said.

The shooters ran away and nobody has been charged in the killing.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Homicide Watch Chicago, Sun-Times Media