Venzel Richardson | Homicide Watch Chicago

Alleged gang member ‘D.Rose’ gets 40 years for fatal shooting of 14-year-old Venzel Richardson in 2014 in Woodlawn

Jeff Mayes — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 09:41:03 -0600

By LUKE WILUSZ and JEFF MAYES
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Ahbir 'D.Rose' Sardin | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.

A South Side man whose street name appeared in the lyrics of several Chicago rappers was sentenced to 40 years in prison Tuesday after being found guilty last year of the 2014 fatal shooting of 14-year-old Venzel Richardson in Woodlawn.

Ahbir Sardin, known as “D.Rose,” was part of a crew of rappers including Lil Reese, Lil Durk and Chief Keef, known for their lyrical and social media feud with rapper Lil JoJo, who was murdered in 2012.

He was at one point accused, and then cleared of that murder.

But a Cook County jury convicted the 20-year-old of first-degree murder on Sept. 15, 2016, for the shooting death of Venzel Richardson, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.

On Tuesday, the alleged gang member was sentenced to 40 years, according to court records.

Venzel Richardson | photo provided

Sardin, 17 at the time of the Richardson’s murder, was featured by his “D.Rose” name in lyrics by Chief Keef, Cdai and RondoNumbaNine, sources said at the time of his arrest.

Richardson and his friends had just left a convenience store near 61st and King Drive on Feb. 12, 2014, and were walking south in the 6100 block of South Vernon when a white minivan pulled up alongside them, prosecutors said during Sardin’s trial.

Sardin, a member of the Black Disciples, according to prosecutors, slid the driver’s-side passenger door open and fired a handgun at the group multiple times.

Richardson, who lived in the 6400 block of South St. Lawrence, suffered four gunshot wounds, including one to the back of the head, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said at the time of the shooting. He ran into a gangway, but collapsed, and was pronounced dead there at 8:25 p.m.

Police learned Sardin may have been involved in the shooting and witnesses identified him in a photo array, prosecutors said. He was arrested about six weeks after the shooting, which police believe was gang related.

Sardin was at one time linked, falsely, to the high-profile 2012 slaying of Lil JoJo, whose real name was Joseph Coleman. He had been feuding with the Black Disciples, along with rival rappers Lil Reese, Lil Durk and Chief Keef before the murder, Homicide Watch Chicago reported at the time.

A post on social media claimed Sardin killed Lil JoJo, but the owner of the Facebook page where it was posted later claimed his account had been hacked. Sardin was not charged in that case.

But Cdai, whose real name was Courtney Ealy; and RondoNumberNine, real name Clint Massey, were both convicted of the murder of jitney cab driver Javan Boyd in May 2016 and are serving prison sentences of 38 and 39 years, respectively.

While Sardin was linked to a street gang, Richardson was a participant in the Mikva Challenge, a program that encourages high school students to take part in the political process through elections, community problem solving and policy-making programs, according to its website.

Jelani McEwen-Torrence, Richardson’s mentor in the program, said at the time that the teen would walk his nephews home every day after school before returning to take part in the program, Homicide Watch Chicago reported at the time.

Alleged gang member ‘D.Rose’ found guilty of murdering 14-year-old Venzel Richardson

Jeff Mayes — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 12:30:04 -0500

By LUKE WILUSZ and JEFF MAYES
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Ahbir Sardin | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.

A South Side man whose street name was referred to in lyrics by several Chicago rappers was found guilty of the 2014 fatal shooting of a 14-year-old Venzel Richardson in the Woodlawn neighborhood.

A Cook County jury convicted 20-year-old Ahbin Sardin of first-degree murder Thursday night for the shooting death of the teen, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.

Sardin, 17 at the time of the murder, was known on the streets as “D.Rose” and was featured in lyrics by Chief Keef, Cdai and RondoNumbaNine, sources said at the time of his arrest.

Richardson and his friends had just left a convenience store near 61st and King Drive on the night of Feb. 12, 2014, and were walking south in the 6100 block of South Vernon when a white minivan pulled up alongside them, prosecutors said.

Venzel Richardson | Facebook

Sardin, allegedly a member of the Black Disciples, slid the driver’s-side passenger door open and fired a handgun at the group multiple times, prosecutors said.

Richardson, who lived in the 6400 block of South St. Lawrence, suffered four gunshot wounds, including one to the back of the head, prosecutors and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. He ran into a gangway, but collapsed, and was pronounced dead there at 8:25 p.m.

Police learned Sardin may have been involved in the shooting and witnesses identified him in a photo array, prosecutors said. Sardin was arrested about six weeks after the shooting.

He faces up to 45 years in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 26.

Sardin was also falsely linked to the high-profile 2012 slaying of rapper Lil JoJo, whose real name was Joseph Coleman. He had been feuding with the Black Disciples along with rival rappers Lil Reese, Lil Durk and Chief Keef before the murder, the Chicago Sun-Times reported at the time.

A post on social media claimed Sardin killed Lil JoJo, but the owner of the Facebook page where it was posted later claimed his account had been hacked. Sardin was not charged in that case.

While Sardin was linked to a gang, Richardson was a participant in the Mikva Challenge, a program that encourages high school students to take part in the political process through elections, community problem solving and policy-making programs, according to its website.

“These children live in extreme environments,” McEwen-Torrence said at the time of his death. “You can’t categorize them by who they may be affiliated with. I want him to be remembered in a holistic way. He was a caring and courteous person.”

UPDATE: Ahbir Sardin held on $1M bond for alleged murder of 14-year-old Venzel Richardson in Woodlawn

Michael Lansu — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 14:11:32 -0500

Venzel Richardson / Photo from Facebook

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago

Ahbir Sardin was ordered held on $1 million bond Monday for allegedly killing 14-year-old Mikva Challenge participant Venzel Richardson during a February shooting in the Woodlawn community that police called gang related.

On Feb. 12, Richardson was walking south in the 6100 block of South Vernon Avenue with a group of people who had all gone to a nearby convenience store, Assistant State Attorney Robert Mack said.

A white minivan then stopped on Vernon Avenue and Sardin, 17, opened the driver's side door and fired multiple shots at Richardson about 8:20 p.m., authorities said.

Richardson was struck four times, including one bullet that entered the back of his neck and exited through his forehead, Mack said.

Richardson, of the 6400 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue, was dead on the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Venzel was part of the Mikva Challenge, said Executive Director Brian Brady. The Mikva Challenge is a program that encourages high school students “to be active participants in the political process through elections, community problem solving and policy-making programs,” according to the Mikva website.

Jelani McEwen-Torrence, Venzel’s Mikva Challenge mentor for two years, said he was overwhelmed with grief when he received word of Venzel’s death. Venzel would walk his nephews home every day after school before returning to take part in the program, McEwen-Torrence said.

“These children live in extreme environments,” McEwen-Torrence said. “You can’t categorize them by who they may be affiliated with. I want him to be remembered in a holistic way. He was a caring and courteous person.”

McEwen-Torrence shared the following video Venzel and friends recorded through the program two years ago:

Police learned Sardin may have been involved in the shooting and witnesses identified him in a photo array, Mack said. Sardin was arrested Saturday and charged with one count of first-degree murder.

Detectives believe the shooting may be gang related, police said.

On Monday, Sardin appeared for a bond hearing dressed in a navy blue Juvenile Temporary Detention Center sweatshirt and gray pants. Judge Maria Kuriakos-Ciesil ordered him held on $1 million bond and issued a next court date of May 19.

A public defender said Sardin is a senior at Dyett High School and lives at home with his mother and three younger siblings.

Sardin has no prior felony convictions.

-- Contributing: Will Hager

Teen charged with murder in Woodlawn shooting death of 14-year-old Venzel Richardson

Michael Lansu — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 23:41:23 -0500

Venzel Richardson / Photo from Facebook

BY SAM CHARLES
Sun-Times Media

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder for allegedly fatally shooting 14-year-old Venzel Richardson in February in Woodlawn.

Richardson was walking with several other males in the 6100 block of South Vernon Avenue when a van drove past and the gunman opened fire about 8:20 p.m. Feb. 12, authorities said. The gunman fled in the van after the shooting, police said.

Detectives believe the shooting was gang related, police said.

Richardson, of the 6400 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue, suffered a gunshot wound to the head and died at the scene, authorities said.

The 17-year-old was charged with first-degree murder Sunday and is expected in bond court Monday, according to police, who were not releasing the alleged shooter's name because he is a juvenile.

-- Contributing: Will Hager

WEEK IN REVIEW: Four murdered in citywide violence

Michael Lansu — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 09:07:20 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Four people were murdered last week in citywide violence.

The youngest victim was a 20-month-old boy, while the oldest was a 69-year-old man. Two men have been charged with murder in those killings.

Two of the killings were shootings, one was a stabbing and the toddler died of child abuse.

The most recent murder happened when 72-year-old Roosevelt Shaffer fatally stabbed 69-year-old friend Raymond Robinson about 10 a.m. Friday in the Bethel Terrace Senior Living facility in the 900 block of West 63rd Street, authorities said.

Shaffer allegedly stabbed Robinson in with a boning knife after they argued about a jacket in the hallway outside Robinson’s room, according to court records.

Robinson died about an hour later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. ordered Shaffer held on $500,000 bond at a hearing Sunday.

On Thursday, officers responding to a call of shots fired found 30-year-old Andre Hughes dead in an alley about 9 p.m. in the 300 block of North Parkside Avenue in the Austin neighborhood, authorities said.

Hughes, of an unidentified home address, was shot multiple times and was dead at the scene, medical examiner’s office.

In the South Shore neighborhood, 26-year-old Vernon Henry allegedly beat his girlfriend's 20-month-old son Thursday morning in the 6900 block of South Cornell Avenue for being a "wuss," authorities said.

The boy, Adonta McCoy, died died Saturday at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office. He was diagnosed with severe brain injuries resulting from a lack of oxygen to the brain, multiple abrasions and bleeding in the eyes.

Prosecutors said an irritated Henry again called the child a “crybaby,” then grabbed Adonta by the arms, lifted him off the floor and shook him violently. The little boy’s head snapped back and forth and his jaw snapped open and closed.

Prosecutors said Henry put his hand around Adonta’s throat and choked the boy, who gasped for air but still sobbed. Henry then allegedly shoved Adonta into a dresser.

Judge Bourgeois ordered Henry held without bond at a Sunday hearing.

The killings started last week when 14-year-old Venzel Richardson was fatally shot about 8:20 p.m. Wednesday while walking with others in the 6100 block of South Vernon Avenue in the Woodlawn community, authorities said.

A van drove up to the group and somebody inside opened fire, striking Venzel multiple times, authorities said. Nobody else in the group was injured.

Venzel, of the 6400 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue, was dead on the scene, according to the medical examiner's office.

The Cook County medical examiner's office has ruled 36 Chicago deaths in 2014 homicides -- including one alleged robber fatally shot by a sheriff's lieutenant. Chicago Police, which counts murders different, has ruled at least three of those deaths involuntary manslaughter or justified self-defense.

Venzel Richardson, 14, shot to death in Woodlawn

Will Hager — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 17:09:37 -0600

Venzel Richardson / Photo from Facebook

BY WILL HAGER
Homicide Watch Chicago

Venzel Richardson was fatally shot Wednesday night just blocks from his Woodlawn home.

Venzel, 14, was walking with two other people in the 6100 block of South Vernon Avenue when a white van drove up about 8:20 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said. Somebody inside the van then opened fire on the group, police said.

Venzel, of the 6400 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue, was shot multiple times and died on the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Nobody else in the group was wounded, police said.

Venzel was part of the Mikva Challenge, said Executive Director Brian Brady. The Mikva Challenge is a program that encourages high school students "to be active participants in the political process through elections, community problem solving and policy-making programs," according to the Mikva website.

Jelani McEwen-Torrence, Venzel's Mikva Challenge mentor for two years, said he was overwhelmed with grief when he received word of Venzel's death. Venzel would walk his nephews home every day after school before returning to take part in the program, McEwen-Torrence said.

"These children live in extreme environments," McEwen-Torrence said. "You can't categorize them by who they may be affiliated with. I want him to be remembered in a holistic way. He was a caring and courteous person."

McEwen-Torrence shared the following video Venzel and friends recorded through the program two years ago:

As word of Venzel's death spread, friends took to Twitter to express their condolences:

To wake up to news like that... Life is to short. We need to take our young people an motivate an mentor them #shocked #ripvenzel

— Shamika Jefferson (@Ms_Micka21) February 13, 2014

RiP TW Venzel . Remember this day like yesterday ! pic.twitter.com/23FofGRTuc

— KeepnUpWitMe&Yentl❤ (@xGabbytheStar) February 13, 2014

The gunman fled in the van after the shooting, police said. Nobody has been charged in the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating if the shooting was gang-related, but Venzel's family told DNAinfo Chicago the Dunbar Vocational Career Academy student was not in a gang and was just a bystander.