Theresa Spearman | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: Frank Smith killed Theresa Spearman during break-up fight with her daughter

Chase DiFeliciantonio — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 16:31:08 -0500

Frank Smith / Photo from Chicago Police

BY CHASE DIFELICIANTONIO
Homicide Watch Chicago

Frank Smith kicked in a bedroom door and gunned down his ex-fiance's 46-year-old mother during a break-up fight last month at the women's New City area home.

On Wednesday, Smith was held without bond for the Feb. 28 shooting that left Theresa Spearman dead and her daughter wounded, authorities said.

Assistant State's Attorney Jamie Santini said Smith's 24-year-old fiance ended their engagement and returned the ring, leading to a fight at the woman's home in the 5400 block of South Laflin Street.

Smith allegedly threatened his now ex-fiance, threw objects around the home then hit her in the face, Santini said. Spearman and another daughter attempted to intervene.

Smith responded by hitting Spearman over the head with a gun and punching the other daughter in the face, Santini said. Spearman retaliated by allegedly breaking a bottle over Smith’s head.

Smith opened fire on the family -- shooting Spearman in the back and wounding his ex-fiance, Santini said. After being shot, Spearman barricaded herself in a bedroom with her wounded daughter.

An enraged Smith kicked in the bedroom door and opened fire again, Santini said. Smith allegedly shot his ex-fiancé in the back, head and foot then fatally shot Spearman in the chest.

Spearman was taken to John H Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where she was pronounced dead, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. The ex-fiancé was also taken to Stroger Hospital, where she was treated for gunshot wounds, Santini said.

Smith fled with the gun and called his ex-fiancé from Indianapolis to threaten to kill the rest of her family, Santini said. Indianapolis authorities arrested Smith and he was extradited to Chicago, where he was identified in a physical lineup.

Smith, of the 5100 block of South Loomis Boulevard, was charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder for a February shooting in the New City community, police said.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Eight shot dead throughout the city

Michael Lansu — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 09:08:42 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Eight people were shot to death throughout Chicago last week.

The week started with four consecutive days without a murder, but ended in a flurry of gun violence. Three people were shot dead on Friday, two on Saturday and two more on Sunday.

Seven of the killings happened on the South Side, including two in the Auburn Gresham community.

The most recent murder happened in Auburn Gresham when Brion M. Dowdell allegedly shot 18-year-old Deandre Barber on a sidewalk in the 8000 block of South Elizabeth Street about 2:40 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Baber, of the 7300 block of South Winchester Avenue, was shot in the head and died at the scene, authorities said.

Dowdell was charged with murder and is expected in court later Monday.

In the West Pullman neighborhood, 29-year-old Maurice Coleman was fatally shot while walking with a friend in the 400 block of West 117th Street just after midnight Sunday, authorities said.

Coleman, of the 11000 block of South Lowe Avenue, was shot in the head and chest and died about 20 minutes later at Roseland Community Hospital, authorities said.

On Saturday, 66-year-old Herbert Goode was fatally shot in the chest during an apparent robbery about 2 p.m. in the 2300 block of West 57th Street in the Gage Park neighborhood, authorities said.

Goode died less than an hour later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

In the New City community, 18-year-old Michael Munoz was walking in the 1700 block of West 46th Street when a gunman exited a van and fired at him multiple times about 12:40 p.m. Saturday, authorities said. The shooter then got back into the van, which drove away, police said.

Munoz, of the 6000 block of South Kolmar Avenue, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County less than an hour later, according to the medical examiner's office.

About 2:45 p.m. Friday, 53-year-old Cleotha Brooks was found in his home in the 0 to 100 block of East 104th Place with a fatal gunshot wound to the face, authorities said. An autopsy ruled the death a homicide.

In the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, 34-year-old Robert Udrow was shot in the chest and legs just after 9 a.m. Friday in the 8000 block of South Sangamon Street, authorities said.

Udrow, of the 5300 block of North Linder Avenue, died about two hours later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the medical examiner's office.

In the Back of the Yards neighborhood, 46-year-old Theresa Spearman was fatally shot during a domestic dispute that also left her 25-year-old daughter wounded in the 5400 block of South Laflin Avenue about 12:05 a.m. Friday, authorities said.

The daughter got into an argument with her boyfriend, and Spearman attempted to intervene, authorities said. The boyfriend shot both women and fled.

Spearman, also of the 5400 block of South Laflin Street, died at Stroger Hospital, according to the medical examiner's office. The daughter was shot multiple times and was initially taken in critical condition to Stroger Hospital, police said.

The killings started Thursday afternoon when Alexander Scott allegedly shot Eric Woods inside his West Garfield Park home.

Scott, 29, allegedly confronted Woods inside his home in the 900 block of South Springfield Avenue and shot him in the chest about 4:20 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Woods, 25, died at Mount Sinai Hospital less than an hour later, according to the medical examiner's office. Scott, of the 2200 block of North Campbell Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder and ordered held without bond.

Overall, the medical examiner's office has ruled 49 Chicago deaths in 2014 homicides -- including two people killed by police. Chicago Police, which counts murders different, has ruled at least three of those deaths involuntary manslaughter or justified self-defense.

Theresa Spearman killed in domestic shooting that also wounded 25-year-old daughter

Michael Lansu — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 09:15:40 -0600

Theresa Spearman was killed and her daughter was critically injured in a domestic shooting early Friday in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.

The 25-year-old daughter got into an argument with her boyfriend in the 5400 block of South Laflin Avenue about 12:05 a.m., police said.

Spearman, 46, attempted to intervene and the boyfriend shot both women, authorities said.

Spearman, also of the 5400 block of South Laflin Street, was shot in the abdomen and upper back and died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County at 12:36 a.m., authorities said.

The daughter was shot multiple times in the torso and was also taken to Stroger Hospital, where she was listed in critical condition, police said.

The boyfriend fled the scene after the shooting, police said.

Nobody has been charged in the killing.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire