Tracey Morgan | Homicide Watch Chicago

Gang member charged with slaying of Tracey Morgan, which prosecutors say led to fatal shooting of Tyshawn Lee

Jeff Mayes — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 12:50:21 -0500

By RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Khalil Yameen | Chicago Police

A reputed member of a faction of the Gangster Disciples street gang, Khalil Yameen, has been charged in the deadly gang-related shooting of Tracey Morgan, who led to the execution-stye murder of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee, Cook County prosecutors claim.

After Yameen and another man killed Tracey Morgan and wounded Morgan’s mother in 2015, Morgan’s brother, Corey, sought revenge. Enraged that his brother was killed and his “mama was shot” as part of a feud between rival gangs, Corey Morgan proclaimed that “he was going to kill grandmas, mamas, kids and all,” according to prosecutors.

Corey Morgan and two fellow members of his gang lured Tyshawn from Dawes Park and into a nearby alley last Nov. 2 by promising to buy the boy candy. One of those men shot Tyshawn in the head, according to prosecutors.

Authorities believe Tyshawn was targeted as part of the ongoing gang war.

Tracey Morgan | Facebook

The Morgan brothers — members of a gang called Bang Bang Terrordome, a faction of the Black P Stones — had been feuding with the Gangster Disciples faction that includes both Yameen and Tyshawn’s father, Pierre Stokes.

Tyshawn’s murder, therefore, was meant to avenge the earlier killing of Tracey Morgan.

Tracey Morgan, 25, was killed last Oct. 13 as he was being driven home by his mother after he had left a police-sponsored meeting of parolees whose goal was to resolve gang conflicts in the area. During the car ride, Morgan’s mother, then 56, noticed that they were being followed by a silver sedan that had been parked outside the meeting, Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini said.

As they headed toward Lafayette and 83rd, the car passed them on the left, then cut in front of them and stopped, Santini said. Meanwhile, another vehicle stopped behind the mother and son, boxing them in.

That’s when Yameen and another gunman got out of the stopped cars, came up to the Morgans’ vehicle and pumped 15 rounds into it.

Amari Brown | photo provided

Tyshawn Lee | photo provided

Tracey Morgan was shot 11 times. Although his mother suffered a gunshot wound to the arm, she managed to drive to a nearby gas station and call for help.

Tyshawn was killed a few days later, on Nov. 2.

Yameen, 23, admitted his role in Tracey Morgan’s slaying to another person, and has been recorded saying that he was armed and at the murder scene.

Cellphone tower records also show Yameen’s mobile phone at the site of the parole meeting Tracey Morgan had attended — as well as calls made between Yameen and the second shooter just before the murder, Santini said.

Judge James Brown on Thursday ordered Yameen, of the 7000 block of South Maplewood, held without bond.

Corey Morgan, Dwright Boone-Doty, and Kevin Edwards — the alleged getaway driver — are all in the Cook County Jail, awaiting trial in Tyshawn's murder.

Tyshawn’s father, Stokes, was held without bond in March after he was charged with shooting three people in the Gresham neighborhood. One of those victims is the girlfriend of one of the men suspected of killing his son.

Judge says killing of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee 'shocked the nation,' orders alleged getaway driver held without bond

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 19 May 2016 15:12:13 -0500

By RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Kevin Edwards | Chicago Police

The alleged getaway driver connected to the fatal shooting of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee was ordered held without bond on Wednesday.

Kevin Edwards was the third suspect to be charged, effectively closing the case that Cook County Judge James Brown said “shocked the city to its core.”

“Actually, it shocked the nation … that a 9-year-old boy could be executed while playing basketball because he was related to a gang member,” the judge added.

Edwards, of the 10600 block of South Green Street, has always been enrolled in special education classes, Assistant Public Defender Kathryn Lisco told Brown.

Given his “minimal mental faculties,” he could not come up with such a deadly plot, Lisco argued as the 23-year-old Edwards stood in a gray sweatshirt, and black and red pajama pants.

Tyshawn Lee | photo provided

But Edwards, a member of the Bang Bang Gang Terrordome faction of the Black P-Stones, had threatened to retaliate in a shooting that killed his co-defendant’s brother, Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini said.

He allegedly said those who killed 25-year-old Tracey Morgan on Oct. 13 “tweaked and everybody must die.”

Police have said Tyshawn was killed in retaliation for the murder of Morgan, killed after he left a police-sponsored meeting of parolees whose goal was to resolve gang conflicts in the area.

Dwright Boone-Doty | Chicago Police

Pierre Stokes, Tyshawn’s father, allegedly belongs to a faction of the rival Gangster Disciples.

The alleged gunman, 22-year-old Dwright Boone-Doty; and Morgan’s brother, 27-year-old Corey Morgan, have already been charged with the murder and are being held without bail at Cook County Jail.

A car Edwards was in was stopped for a traffic violation downstate over the weekend and he was arrested for resisting arrest and obstructing a peace officer, according to the Vermilion County sheriff’s office.

Edwards jumped out of the car and took off running before he was caught a block away, Santini said. He gave the arresting officer a false name. Edwards was held at the jail in Danville before he was transferred to Chicago.

A first-degree murder warrant had been out for Edwards since about four weeks after Tyshawn’s slaying on Nov. 2, 2015.

Corey Morgan | Chicago Police

Authorities have said Tyshawn was lured into an alley and killed execution-style in the 8000 block of South Damen in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood. Boone-Doty offered to take the boy to a store for candy and walked him down the alley before shooting him repeatedly at close range, prosecutors allege.

Witnesses said they saw Edwards’ dark-colored SUV follow Tyshawn and Boone-Doty into the alley, Santini said.

After the shooting, Boone-Doty jumped into the van, which the murder suspects later wiped down with cleaning products, Santini said.

The internal global positioning system was reset and the SUV was abandoned.

But police were able to retrieve the GPS data, which showed that Edwards’ SUV was parked in and around Dawes Park at the time of Tyshawn’s murder, Santini said.

Third man wanted in connection with murder of Tyshawn Lee captured in downstate Danville

Jeff Mayes — Mon, 16 May 2016 13:35:58 -0500

By MITCHELL ARMENTROUT
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Kevin Edwards | Chicago Police

The third man wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee in November was arrested in downstate Danville over the weekend.

Kevin Edwards, 22, was stopped for a traffic violation Saturday night and arrested for resisting arrest and obstructing a peace officer, according to the Vermilion County sheriff’s office.

He was being held at the jail in Danville on Monday morning and had been questioned by Chicago Police detectives, sheriff’s officers said.

Chicago Police are coordinating with the sheriff’s office to get Edwards back to Chicago to answer for his involvement in the murder of Tyshawn, department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.

Dwright Boone-Doty | Chicago Police

“Mr. Edwards, and his associates, Dwright Boone-Doty and Corey Morgan, committed one of the most reprehensible acts of violence in recent history by luring and executing Tyshawn Lee. We are hopeful this provides some level of solace to the family and now CPD will work with our prosecutorial partners to ensure we build the strongest case possible to hold them accountable,” Guglielmi said.

A first-degree murder warrant had been out for Edwards’ arrest since about four weeks after Tyshawn’s slaying on Nov. 2, 2015, police said previously.

Boone-Doty, 22; and Morgan, 27, have already been charged with the murder and remain held without bond.

Corey Morgan | Chicago Police

Authorities have said Tyshawn was lured into an alley in Auburn Gresham’s 8000 block of South Damen and killed execution-style. Boone-Doty offered to take the boy to a store for candy and walked him down the alley before shooting him repeatedly at close range, Cook County prosecutors allege.

Tyshawn Lee | photo provided

Police have said Tyshawn was killed in retaliation for the Oct. 13 murder of Corey Morgan’s brother Tracey Morgan, 25, after he left a police-sponsored meeting of parolees whose goal was to resolve gang conflicts in the area.

Police have not detailed Edwards’ alleged involvement in the killing.

Police: Jailhouse informant led to charges against inmate for killing Tyshawn Lee and Brianna Jenkins

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 09:48:53 -0600

By FRANK MAIN, STEFANO ESPOSITO and SAM CHARLES
Chicago Sun-Times

Dwright Boone-Doty | Chicago Police

A jailhouse informant provided the key evidence that led to charges against the alleged triggerman in the execution of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee and the murder of Brianna Jenkins, law enforcement sources said Tuesday.

An inmate in the Cook County Jail told authorities that Dwright Boone-Doty was bragging about shooting Tyshawn, sources said. Cook County sheriff’s officials notified the Cook County state’s attorney’s office and Chicago Police, whose detectives interviewed the informant.

When detectives decided the informant was credible, they obtained court authorization for the informant to wear a wire, which captured Boone-Doty making incriminating statements about his involvement in Tyshawn’s Nov. 2 slaying—as well as the Oct. 18 slaying of Brianna Jenkins.

On Monday, Boone-Doty was charged with murder in the deaths of Tyshawn and Jenkins, and with attempted murder for allegedly wounding Deshari Bowens in the same shooting that killed Jenkins.

Tyshawn Lee

The FBI provided technical assistance in the “overhear” of Boone-Doty, who was in the Cook County Jail on a separate gun charge, sources said.

Detectives “were able to ascertain that Mr. Doty targeted, lured and executed Tyshawn Lee,” Anthony Guglielmi, a Chicago Police spokesman, said.

Police believe Tyshawn, Jenkins and Bowens were all shot in connection with an ongoing gang feud in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood on the South Side.

Jenkins, 19, and Bowens, 20, were sitting in a car about 4:30 p.m. Oct. 18 in the 7800 block of South Honore when they were shot, police said.

Jenkins, of the 2100 block of West 69th Street, was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Friends drove Bowens to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where his condition was stabilized.

Brianna Jenkins | Facebook

Police have said Tyshawn was killed in retaliation for the Oct. 13 murder of Tracey Morgan, 25, after he left a police-sponsored meeting of parolees whose goal was to resolve gang conflicts in the area. Tyshawn was walking to his grandmother’s house at 4 p.m. when he was led into an alley and fatally shot in the head, police said.

Morgan and Boone-Doty were members of a faction of the Black P Stones, police said.

Tyshawn was targeted because of his father’s ties to a rival Gangster Disciples faction believed responsible for Morgan’s killing, police said.

Corey Morgan | Chicago Police

Boone-Doty was arrested on a separate gun charge in mid-November, along with another man, Corey Morgan.

Morgan, the brother of Tracey Morgan, was later charged in Tyshawn’s death. Police have a warrant for the arrest of a third suspect, Kevin Edwards, 22, in the fourth-grader’s killing.

Tracey Morgan | Facebook

Boone-Doty was sentenced to five years in prison in July 2013 for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and other narcotics convictions, prison records show.

He was paroled in August 2015, three months before Tyshawn was lured into the alley in the 8000 block of South Damen and fatally shot.

Corey Morgan, 27, of Lansing, was previously charged with one count of first-degree murder for the boy’s death and is being held without bond.

Morgan’s attorney, Jonathan Brayman, has said his client denied being involved in Tyshawn’s murder.

Kevin Edwards | Chicago Police

Tyshawn was shot in the right temple and the bullet went through his left temple, according to a Nov. 3 autopsy report reviewed by the Chicago Sun-Times. He also was grazed in the back, right forearm and right hand.

Gunpowder residue was found on the left side of Tyshawn’s face, revealing that the shooter likely missed a shot. That bullet likely either grazed his back or struck his right thumb. There were no gunshot wounds on the left side of his face, the report said.

Seven .40-caliber bullet casings were found at the murder scene.

'Person of interest' in murder of Tyshawn Lee ordered held on $1M bond for unrelated gun charge

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 15:12:43 -0600

By FRANK MAIN and RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Corey Morgan | Cook County sheriff's office

A person of interest in the murder of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee was ordered held on a $1 million bond Wednesday on an unrelated charge of being a felon in possession of a gun.

Corey Morgan, 27, of the 7800 block of South Hoyne, was arrested Monday afternoon after he left a Hilton hotel near 95th Street in Oak Lawn, authorities say. Arrested with him was Dwight Boone-Doty, 21, of the 7300 block of South Vernon.

They were stopped in a car on 87th Street in nearby Evergreen Park.

Police allegedly recovered two handguns from the men. Both were ordered held on $1 million bonds Wednesday to the sounds of gasps in the courtroom.

Tyshawn Lee

Court records show Morgan was convicted of illegal gun possession in 2011 and sentenced to probation and five days of community service.

Law enforcement sources said he is a person of interest in the slaying of Tyshawn about 4:15 p.m. Nov. 2 in the 8000 block of South Damen.

The 4th-grader was lured into an alley and executed in retaliation against the boy’s father, authorities say.

Morgan is not charged in connection with the murder, which has attracted national attention because of its heinous nature.

Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy called the shooting “probably the most abhorrent, cowardly, unfathomable crime that I’ve witnessed in 35 years of policing.”

Police believe Tyshawn was killed in retaliation for the Oct. 13 murder of Tracey Morgan, 25, who is the brother of Corey Morgan, records show.

Tracey Morgan’s mother was in the car with him during that shooting and was wounded. They had just left a police-sponsored meeting to discourage gang members from violence.

Tracey Morgan and Tyshawn’s father were in rival gangs, police say.

Authorities revealed at the bond hearing that Boone-Doty was seen with a gun in his waistband and Morgan was holding a duffle bag, Scaduto said.

Morgan was then seen getting into the back of a car and Boone-Doty got into the front before the car drove away, Scaduto said.

When police stopped the vehicle, they found a .40 caliber gun with 12 live rounds in Boone-Doty’s waistband. And a .45 caliber handgun with 14 live rounds were found in the duffle bag, Scaduto said.

Morgan also has a previous aggravated unlawful use of a weapon conviction. And Boone-Doty is currently on a parole for a drug and weapons case. He was released from prison in August.

Morgan and Boone-Doty both work in construction, their lawyers said.

Morgan has a 1-year-old child, and Boone-Doty a 3-month-old.

An irritated Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. said, as convicted felons, the men know they shouldn’t have guns.

“I am consistent with gun cases,” the judge said before setting the high bonds, prompting gasps in the courtroom.

WEEK IN REVIEW: At least 9 die from gun violence, including 3-year-old accidentally shot by 6-year-old

Jeff Mayes — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 16:00:33 -0500

By JEFF MAYES
Chicago Sun-Times Wire
At least 9 people were killed in gun violence last week in Chicago, including a 3-year-old boy who died after being accidentally shot by his 6-year-old brother while playing cops and robbers with their dad's illegal gun.

Michael Santiago told a judge he bought the gun to protect himself after the former gang member was tagged with a “snitch” label for testifying at the murder trial of another gang member. But Santiago’s 6-year-old son got his hands on the gun and accidentally shot his brother while the toddler ate a bowl of macaroni and cheese, Cook County prosecutors said at Santiago's bond hearing.

Santiago said he warned his elder son that the Smith & Wesson .32-caliber revolver—bundled in pajamas atop the refrigerator in the family’s garden apartment in Humboldt Park—was to be handled “only by adults,” but the boy got the weapon and shot his brother, Eian H. Santiago, in the head just after 9 p.m. Saturday, prosecutors said. Police said the older boy was playing cops and robbers.

A family member carried Eian to Norwegian American Hospital. He was later transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died at 11:48 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy ruled his death a homicide.

Santiago, 25, admitted he bought the gun off the street, and had no carry permit or FOID card, prosecutors said. He was charged with felony child endangerment causing death, and ordered held on a $75,000 bond.

Two people were shot—one fatally—in the Gresham neighborhood Sunday afternoon.

Brianna Jenkins, 19, and a 20-year-old man were sitting in a car about 4:30 p.m. in the 7800 block of South Honore when someone walked up and opened fire, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Jenkins, of the 2100 block of West 69th Street, was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Friends drove the man to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where his condition stabilized.

About 2:05 a.m. Sunday, 22-year-old Dwayne Richardson was killed and another man wounded in a Roseland neighborhood shooting.

The men were in a vehicle pulling away from the curb in the 10500 block of South Prairie when a male walked up and opened fire, Chicago Police said.

The vehicle sped away and eventually crashed into a tree in the 10500 block of South Prairie, police said.

The driver, Richardson, was shot in the upper back and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The 19-year-old man sitting in the passenger seat was shot in the left knee and was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where his condition was stabilized, police said.

David Thomas was shot and killed in a drive-by attack Friday morning on a Chicago Public Schools Safe Passage route in Englewood.

The 32-year-old Thomas was walking in the 6000 block of South Aberdeen when someone fired at him from a passing gray vehicle about 7:30 a.m., according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Shot four times, he was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:51 a.m., authorities said. Thomas’ home address was unknown Friday afternoon.

A man found shot to death in Chatham early Friday was identified as Dameon Williams.

Williams, 28, got into an altercation with another male, who shot him in the head in the 8300 block of South Evans a few minutes after 1 a.m., according to police and the medical examiner's office. The suspect ran away after the shooting.

Officers found Williams dead at the scene, authorities said.

Eighteen-year-old Michael Fenner Jr. was killed and a 16-yer-old boy wounded in a Washington Heights neighborhood drive-by shooting late Wednesday.

About 11 p.m., Fenner and the younger teen were on a sidewalk in the 9700 block of South Peoria when someone opened fire from an SUV, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Fenner was shot in the chest and abdomen, and was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. He lived in the 9400 block of South Justine.

The younger boy was shot in the leg and was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Oak Lawn, where his condition stabilized, police said.

Henry R. Hayes was fatally shot in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood on Wednesday evening.

The 22-year-old was standing outside in the 7700 block of South Indiana Avenue at 5:20 p.m. when someone walked up and shot him several times in the chest, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Hayes, who lived nearby in the 300 block of East 77th Street, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man was killed and a woman injured in a Chatham neighborhood shooting Tuesday night.

Tracey Morgan, 25, was sitting in a vehicle with a 56-year-old woman in the 8200 block of South Lafayette about 8:30 p.m. when another vehicle approached and someone inside opened fire, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Morgan, of the 7800 bock of South Hoyne, was shot in the abdomen and the woman was shot in the arm, authorities said.

Both were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where Morgan was pronounced dead at 9:27 p.m., authorities said. The woman’s condition was stabilized.

Juan Cardenas of Blue Island died early Monday after being dropped off at a Near West Side hospital with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

About 3:05 a.m. Monday, acquaintances dropped the 28-year-old off at Rush University Medical Center at 1653 W. Congress Pkwy., according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

Cardenas, of the 2700 block of Grunewald Street in Blue Island, was later transferred to Stroger Hospital, where he died at 5:02 a.m., authorities said.

Area Central detectives are investigating, but have not yet determined where the shooting took place.

Tracey Morgan killed, woman injured in drive-by shooting in Chatham

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 09:04:08 -0500

Tracey Morgan was killed and a woman injured in a Chatham neighborhood shooting Tuesday night.

Morgan, 25, was sitting in a vehicle with a 56-year-old woman in the 8200 block of South Lafayette about 8:30 p.m. when another vehicle approached and someone inside opened fire, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Morgan, of the 7800 bock of South Hoyne, was shot in the abdomen and the woman was shot in the arm, authorities said.

Both were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where Morgan was pronounced dead at 9:27 p.m., authorities said. The woman’s condition was stabilized.

An autopsy Wednesday found he died of multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide.

--Chicago Sun-Times Wire