Jerome Lofton / Photo from Chicago Police

BY JORDAN OWEN
Sun-Times Media

Jerome Lofton has been charged with murder for allegedly shooting Darrien Jordan during a Tuesday afternoon argument in the North Lawndale neighborhood.

Lofton got into an argument with Jordan in the 3900 block of West Grenshaw Street about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, authorities said. The dispute ended when Lofton allegedly shot the 21-year-old Jordan him in the abdomen area, authorities said.

Jordan, who lived on the block, died at Mount Sinai Hospital later that day, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Darrien Jordan / Photo from Facebook

Long-time friend Savoia Johnson said Jordan was “planning a big change in his life.” She said he didn’t deal drugs, wasn’t involved in gang activity and was shot because of a “crazy argument.”

Lofton, 32, of the 3700 block of West Polk Street, was charged with first-degree murder, police said.

Aaron Rushing, 15, was fatally shot in a May 18 drive-by shooting in the 4700 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue in the Kenwood neighborhood. Reader "Rev. WR" posted this about the killing:

Another talented young person, shot for no reason. When will we ever stop killing our future young people? Enough is a enough...

Nicholas Keener / Photo from Twitter

BY SUSAN DU
Homicide Watch Chicago

Roosevelt High School junior Nicholas Keener "basically had a feeling that something was gonna happen," a friend said.

That feeling turned out to be true as Nicholas, 16, was shot in the chest while walking with a group in the 3800 block of North St. Louis Avenue about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Nicholas, of the 4800 block of North Hamlin Avenue, died less than an hour later at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Elitania Gutierrez, Nicholas' classmate at Roosevelt, said he was walking to a friend's barbecue when he was shot.

Elitania, 17, said Nicholas had posted to Facebook asking who would be at his funeral if something happened. His friends didn't take the post too seriously -- joking about leaving blunts in his casket and burying him under the Gucci store, she said. Nicholas was shot dead a short time later.

Earlier that day, Nicholas confided in Elitania that he was afraid that if he were attacked he wouldn't be able to run away because his ankle was hurt, she said.

"Lately, here in Chicago, everything's been crazy, so he was really trying to be safe, trying to look out for others, especially for his ... not blood brothers, but he has a brotherhood with three other people, his main people," Elitania said.

Elitania said Nicholas was never involved in gangs, but police said detectives are investigating if the shooting was gang related.

Elitania remembered Nicholas fondly as someone who was always smiling, dancing and making jokes. She said he kept out of trouble and enjoyed playing basketball and bicycling -- especially Critical Mass, a monthly biking event through Downtown.

"Biking was his thing," Elitania added. "It was a spiritual thing. When he was stressed out, he would go. He'd say, 'Wow I really needed this.'"

A bicycle was found at the crime scene.

Scene where Nicholas Keener was fatally shot / Photo by NVP News Video

As a student, Nicholas was "ambitious but lazy," Elitania said. His goal was to graduate, and though he occasionally struggled with attendance, he was loved by teachers and his fellow classmates, she said.

"He had a diverse friend group. That's the thing about him," Elitania said. "That's why everybody's hurting so much in school, for the simple fact that he didn't care who you were, he didn't care what race you were. he didn't care about nothing. If he messed around with you, you were his friend right away."

In the days following Nicholas' death, his friends at Roosevelt set up a fundraiser in support of his family. His two little brothers are staying with family friends as his mother and grandmother make funeral arrangements with the help of Roosevelt students.

"His family wasn't the richest, so we're trying to give him a proper burial," Elitania said.

Matthew Jackson / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Matthew X. Jackson fatally shot Davy Easterling, a bodyguard for Chicago rapper Twista, during an armed robbery at a South Chicago apartment, prosecutors said.

On Friday, Judge Laura Sullivan ordered Jackson held without bond on murder and armed robbery charges.

On Feb. 20, Easterling was drinking in an apartment with the female tenant and Jackson's girlfriend, said Assistant State's Attorney Beth Novy. The two women eventually got into an argument and Jackson's girlfriend left.

When she returned home she told Jackson about the fight and how she saw Easterling with "foreign money," Novy said. The couple then went back to the woman's apartment, where Jackson allegedly held Easterling at gunpoint and demanded his foreign money.

Jackson shot Easterling in the mouth and chest, then went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife he used to cut Easterling's throat, Novy said. Jackson allegedly took Easterling's belongings and left with the two women.

Jackson stole Easterling's car and three met at Jackson's apartment, where he told his girlfriend and the other woman to find flammable liquids, Novy said. Easterling's car was found burned inside and out "a few blocks" from Jackson's apartment.

Before friends and family knew what had happened to Easterling, Twista took to social media to try and the man he called “a close friend” and bodyguard.

“We are all worried and pray for his safe return,” Twista posted.

Easterling's body was discovered about 6 a.m. the next day when firefighters responded to a blaze in the other woman's apartment in the 8300 block of South Baker Avenue, authorities said.

The fire started in the rear bedroom of the first floor apartment, and firefighters contained the blaze to that unit, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.

Photo from Chicago Fire Department

Easterling, 31, of the 8100 block of South Vernon Avenue, was found dead in the bedroom, authorities said. An autopsy determined he died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

After the murder, Twista posted to social network sites Instagram and Twitter to honor his friend:

#RIP Davy Easterling aka 6'9 I have lost too many good friends to these streets. http://t.co/pX7XOtOvYD

— #BTTB on itunes NOW! (@TWISTAgmg) February 22, 2014

Jackson, 25, of the 8000 block of South Champlain Avenue, is also awaiting trial in Bridgeview for residential burglary and attempted aggravated robbery, according to court documents.

Assistant Public Defender Andrea Webber said Jackson is a graduate of De La Salle High School and attended some college in downstate Carbondale and later at Kennedy King College.

He will be back in court June 24.

Davy Easterling / Photo from Twitter

Jerome Lofton / Photo from Chicago Police

BY EMILY BROSIOUS
Homicide Watch Chicago

Jerome Lofton attempted to pistol whip Darrien Jordan during an Tuesday afternoon fight in the North Lawndale neighborhood, prosecutors said.

Lofton then stepped back and shot Jordan in the abdomen, said Assistant State's Attorney Colleen Rogers.

The men had been arguing on a sidewalk in the 3900 block of West Grenshaw Street about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Rogers said. During the argument, a white car pulled up and Lofton allegedly reached inside and grabbed a handgun.

Lofton then dropped the gun back into the car and ran away, Rogers said.

Jordan, 21, who lived on the block, died at Mount Sinai Hospital at 4 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Jordan's longtime friend Savoia Johnson said she knew both men and described them as “buddies.”

“That’s why it’s so hard to believe he shot him. You always think it’s going to be a stranger, not someone you know, not a friend,” Johnson said.

Darrien Jordan / Photo from Facebook

Portions of the incident were captured on video, and several witnesses identified Lofton as the shooter, Rogers said.

Lofton, 32, of the 3700 block of West Polk Street, was charged with first-degree murder. Judge Laura Sullivan ordered him held without bond Friday.

A public defender said Lofton had attended Roberto Clemente High School and was working for a temp agency.

He will be back in court June 24.

Derrick Bowens was fatally shot Thursday morning outside his Englewood home.

Bowens, 27, was shot about 9:50 a.m. Thursday in the 7000 block of South Morgan Street, authorities said.

He was standing outside his home when a black car pulled up and a passenger in the rear seat opened fire -- striking him in the abdomen, police said.

Bowens died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where at 7:04 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

The vehicle sped off after the shooting and nobody is in custody for the murder, police said.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

Alante Vallejo was killed in a Friday afternoon shooting in the Rogers Park neighborhood that left another man wounded.

Officers responding to a call of shots fired found 18-year-old Alante Vallejo lying in the 1900 block of West Howard Street with a gunshot wound to his torso about 1:45 p.m., authorities said.

Vallejo, of the 200 block of Ridge Avenue in Evanston, died at Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston at 2:26 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

A second man, 20, later walked into NorthShore University HealthSystem Evanston Hospital with a gunshot wound to the foot from the same shooting, police said. He was listed in good condition.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating if the shooting is gang related.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Carnesha Fort was shot to death in the West Garfield Park neighborhood Friday night.

Fort, 22, was shot in the 100 block of North Keeler Avenue about 10:45 p.m., authorities said.

Fort, who lived on the block, died at Mount Sinai Hospital less than an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating if the shooting is domestic related.

Brian Weekly was killed in an early Saturday shooting in the Washington Park neighborhood that left another man critically wounded.

Weekly, 18, was shot multiple times in an alley in the 5600 block of South Wabash Avenue about 1:30 a.m., authorities said. A 20-year-old man was also shot multiple times.

Weekly, of the 1400 block of West 79th Street, was dead at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The 20-year-old was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in critical condition, police said.

At least 20 people, including family and friends, were gathered on the corner of 56th Street and Wabash as police investigated.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Surveillance image / Photo from Chicago Police

Police have released video surveillance of two men they are looking to question in connection with two shooting deaths blocks apart last December.

The murders happened about 30 minutes apart and three blocks apart in the early morning hours of Dec. 19, 2013, police said.

Both Eric "Guitar" Davis and Willie Cooper were sitting in parked vehicles when they were shot during attempted armed robberies, police said.

“Willie Cooper was a deacon of his church and a great person who would help anyone,” George McDade, chairman of the Cook County Crime Stoppers, said in a statement. “Eric Davis is from a family of jazz musicians and had a promising career.

“Both men were pillars in their community and involved in careers and helping others. Now they both share a violent death from gun violence as victims of possible robbery,” McDade said.

Cooper, 74, was waiting to give a friend a ride to work when two suspects shot him at 4:44 a.m. in the 7000 block of South East End Avenue, authorities said.

Davis, 41, was sitting in his vehicle in the 6700 block of South East End Avenue about 5:20 a.m. when two people shot him, police said.

Both Davis, of the 14200 block of South Eggleston Avenue in Riverdale; and Cooper, of the 6800 block of South Crandon Avenue, were dead at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

Police said previously they believe the same offenders may be involved in both shootings.

Crime Stoppers will be distributing flyers Saturday in the area of the murders at 70th Street and South East End Avenue, McDade said.

Surveillance image / Photo from Chicago Police

“Crime Stoppers joins the victims’ families and Chicago Police this Saturday looking for information from the community that will lead to the identification and arrest of the offenders” he said in the statement.

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in either case.

Anyone with information should call (800) 535-7867; callers can remain anonymous.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Alante Vallejo / Photo from Facebook

BY SUSAN DU
Homicide Watch Chicago

Evanston resident Alante Vallejo graduated high school less than a week before he was fatally shot in the Rogers Park neighborhood Friday night.

Vallejo, 18, was shot in the chest about 1:45 p.m. Friday in the 1900 block of West Howard Street, authorities said. A second man, 20, also wounded in the shooting.

Police found Vallejo, of the 200 block of Ridge Avenue in Evanston, lying in the street, authorities said. He died less than an hour later.

Area North detectives are investigating if the shooting is gang related, but Vallejo's friend said the Evanston Township High School graduate “ain’t that type of guy.”

Jodeci Johnson, 18, met Vallejo through a mutual acquaintance, and the two quickly became friends. The pair played video games and pickup basketball, ate at Jamaican restaurants and gave each other advice about girls.

Vallejo grew up in Evanston, where his parents and sister still live, Johnson said. He was a Bulls fan with a generous wit that made people laugh.

“He’s a mellow person, very cool, respectful, a person who’s cool to hang around with and talk to,” Johnson said. “He was like a brother.”

Vallejo mostly kept to himself and was good at keeping his cool, Johnson said. He preferred small groups to large crowds so he could prioritize the needs of those closest to him, he said.

Johnson recalled a time when he sought Vallejo’s advice on what to do about an argument with a girlfriend. Vallejo urged Johnson to just relax and let his relationship run its natural course.

“He said that we just had to take some time from each other, that stuff’s all in the air,” Johnson said. “When you come back to the person, you know that’s the person for you. Leave her for a little bit and come back, that should you if she’s the right one or not.”

Vallejo didn’t talk about his religious views, but the rosary tattooed on his chest spoke for itself, Johnson said.

“He kept out of trouble. He was looking out for himself, planning his future when he got out of high school,” he said.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Kennyone Pendelton was shot to death Saturday night on the West Side.

Pendelton, 36, was shot in the chest multiple times in the 4600 block of West Jackson Boulevard about 9:25 p.m., authorities said.

Pendelton, of the 1100 block of North Lawler Avenue, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating if the shooting was gang related.

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

At least seven people were murdered throughout Chicago last week -- the city's lowest homicide total in three weeks.

All seven people were killed by gunfire. The deceased were six men and a woman.

The seven killings are the lowest weekly total since five people were killed May 12-18, according to Homicide Watch Chicago data. The next two weeks had 11 and 14 homicides.

The most recent murder happened when 36-year-old Kennyone Pendelton was shot in the chest multiple times in the 4600 block of West Jackson Boulevard about 9:25 p.m. Saturday, authorities said. Pendelton, of the 1100 block of North Lawler Avenue, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

In the Washington Park neighborhood, 18-year-old Brian Weekly was shot multiple times in an alley in the 5600 block of South Wabash Avenue about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, authorities said. A 20-year-old man was also wounded but survived.

Weekly, of the 1400 block of West 79th Street, died at the scene, according to the examiner’s office.

On Friday, 22-year-old Carnesha Fort was shot in the 100 block of North Keeler Avenue about 10:45 p.m., authorities said. Fort, who lived on the block, died at Mount Sinai Hospital less than an hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

In Rogers Park, 18-year-old Alante Vallejo was shot in the 1900 block of West Howard Street about 1:45 p.m. Friday, authorities said. A 20-year-old man was also wounded but survived.

Vallejo, of the 200 block of Ridge Avenue in Evanston, died less than an hour later at Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston.

Friend Jodeci Johnson said Vallejo had recently graduated from Evanston Township High School and was "planning his future."

On Thursday, 27-year-old Derrick Bowens was standing outside his home in the 7000 block of South Morgan Street when when a black car pulled up and a passenger in the rear seat shot him in the abdomen about 9:50 a.m., authorities said.

Bowens died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn hours later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Wednesday, 18-year-old Ronald Holliman was shot in the 4900 block of West West End Avenue about 5 p.m., authorities said. Two other men were wounded but survived.

Holliman, of the 5200 block of West Race Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the medical examiner's office.

On Tuesday, Jerome Lofton fatally shot 21-year-old Darrien Jordan during an argument in the 3900 block of West Grenshaw Street, prosecutors said. Lofton, 32, of the 3700 block of West Polk Street, allegedly grabbed a gun from a vehicle and shot Jordan in the chest about 1:30 p.m.

Jordan, 21, who lived on the block, died hours later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the medical examiner's office.

Additionally, 25-year-old David M. Hernandez, of the 6000 block of South Lorel Avenue, died Monday from wounds suffered in a drive-by Sunday evening shooting in the 900 block of West 32nd Street in the Bridgeport neighborhood, authorities said.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 165 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including seven people killed by police.

Additionally, the state’s attorney’s office filed first-degree murder charges against a speeding motorist who killed an off-duty police officer while trying to flee police even though the autopsy ruled the death an accident.

Chicago Police, which counts murders different, have ruled some of those homicides as involuntary manslaughter, justified self-defense or accidents.

Eric Kall / Photo from Facebook

BY SUSAN DU
Homicide Watch Chicago

Eric Kall had just gotten a season pass to take his young son to Brookfield Zoo this summer, friends said.

Kall won't get to use those passes after being shot about 10 p.m. June 1 in the 6200 block of South Francisco Avenue in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, authorities said.

Kall, of the 5100 block of South Moody Avenue, died at Holy Cross Hospital about 20 minutes later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

He had turned 27 the day before.

A close friend, who asked not to be named, said the two celebrated Kall's birthday by relaxing at home, tossing bean bags, drinking and grilling. It was a rare respite for Kall, who spent most of his time working at Nature Gro Systems in Orland Park.

“He had some great friends. He had a great heart,” Kall’s friend said. “He was hated by a lot of people, but he was loved by many. He always showed a lot of respect to everybody he was close to.”

Kall lived in Chicago all his life and was a loyal fan of the Bears, Bulls and White Sox.

He got into trouble in his youth and never completed high school, but worked hard for his family and hoped for a better future, coworkers said.

Nature Gro Systems owner Joseph Delogu said he hired Kall in August 2013 because of his calm, good mannered, soft-spoken personality. He learned quickly and had the ambition and potential to work his way up to foreman.

As part a three-man team, Kall did landscaping, lawn maintenance and snow removal, Delogu said.

“He could pick up anything. He was a very bright person, very good mind,” Delogu said. “I had many employees work for me and many of them just will not learn much, but he would do anything you trained him.”

Kall tended to focus on his job while on company time, but occasionally talked about his 5-year-old son and how proud he was of him, Delogu said. Kall had recently requested some time off to attend his son’s kindergarten graduation.

“He loved his child,” Delogu said. “It sounded like he loved to look after his son when his girlfriend had to work. You could tell he was very proud. He was number one.”

Kall lived apart from his girlfriend and hadn’t seen his son for about two weeks before he died, his friend said. But Kall's hoped to move in with the child's mother and raise more children later in life.

“He was probably a documented gang member, but he wasn’t really in the streets like that,” the friend said. “He wasn’t young anymore. It had to have happened because he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. He just wanted to raise his family and get away from all the problems in the neighborhood. I guess they just caught up with him.”

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

Monte Tillman, 33, was fatally shot last month in the Austin community. Reader "lil lady" posted this about him:

Rest in peace monte im gone miss calling you askin you to make a pot roast every sunday cause i never knew a dude that could cook like u i will foreva watch ova my lil cousin monae an always let her know how much her daddy loved her an she will foreva be daddys little girl rest foreva TaeBlack much luv!!!

BY FRANK MAIN AND BRIAN SLODYSKO
Chicago Sun-Times

A South Side woman filed a domestic battery report with Chicago Police officers against her longtime boyfriend following a quarrel Sunday night — apparently over her ending their relationship, officials say.

The boyfriend, Edward Prince, left the house in the 3500 block of West 79th Place before the police arrived. But he returned on Monday morning with a vengeance, authorities say.

Prince, whose family members say he suffered from mental illness in the past, went on a shooting rampage at about 8:55 a.m. The 36-year-old man killed his girlfriend, LaQuisha Hickman, 37, and another woman, Nicole Loving, 23, according to a Chicago Police Department official.

Loving was a houseguest, family members said.

Prince also shot Deon Tillman, 18, in the leg. Then Prince committed suicide, turning the gun on himself.

Edward Prince’s uncle, Elvin Prince, 58, suffered lacerations to the head, but wasn’t shot, police said.

The SWAT team entered the house after the shots were reported to police and discovered the carnage.

The shooting appears to have stemmed from a domestic quarrel, police said. Family members said Edward Prince believed Hickman was cheating on him.

There were no prior court orders of protection against Edward Prince, police said.

Relatives described a loving extended family anchored by Elvin Prince and his wife, Corliss, who both lived at the home. On weekends, relatives regularly stayed over and Elvin Prince barbecued.

But on Sunday night there was discord following the regular weekend gathering. Edward Prince got into a quarrel with Hickman, his family said. Edward Prince, who had three children with Hickman, apparently believed she was unfaithful to him, multiple family members said. He left home after the fight, but she stayed.

In the morning, he returned. He apparently pistol-whipped Elvin Prince and shot Tillman, another family member, in the leg, officials said. Both men escaped the home and were found outside by police.

Edward Prince then shot Hickman and Loving before killing himself, police said.

Edward Prince was a stay-at-home father who reared the couple’s three children, said Kinyana Prince, 33, who is in Chicago visiting from Springfield.

She said Edward Prince had a history of mental health issues, for which he took medication in the past. She said she didn’t know if he was on his medication before the shooting occurred.

Regardless of what motivated him to go on his rampage, she said Edward Prince was “caring, loved his kids and had a good heart.”

“That’s why I’m at such a loss to explain this,” Kinyana Prince said. “We’re all loving and caring.”

-- Contributing: Ashlee Rezin

Charles Short / Family photo

BY EMILY BROSIOUS
Homicide Watch Chicago

A 51-year-old ordained preacher was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when he was fatally shot last month in the Fuller Park neighborhood, his family said.

Charles D. Short was standing with a 32-year-old man in the 4200 block of South Princeton Avenue when when a gunman opened fire about 6:30 p.m. May 30, authorities said.

Short was struck in the head died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. The younger man was wounded but survived.

Short, who lived nearby, was coming home from the grocery to cook dinner, said his mother, Kate Taylor.

“He liked cooking,” she said. “He was good. He’d cook up ham hocks."

Short’s was an ordained preacher at Lord’s Way Baptist Church at 1250 E. 75th Street, his mother said.

“He had so many favorite passages,” Taylor said. “He could quote them from memory.”

Short grew up on the South Side with his large family, relatives said.
Recently laid off from his job at a security company, Short was considering going back to school, Taylor said.

“He was a good person. You could ask him for anything,” said Short's mother, Kate Taylor. “He wasn’t involved with any gangs ... It wasn’t anything like that.”

Short leaves behind three children and five siblings.

Nobody has been charged for the murder. Area Central detectives are investigating.

Surveillance image / Photo from Chicago Police

BY FRANK MAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

One victim was a retired bus driver and the other a talented blues guitarist.

They were shot to death three blocks apart on the morning of Dec. 19, 2013, in what police believe were botched robberies.

Police said they have two suspects in the murders. Both are now behind bars for other crimes. But no one in the South Shore neighborhood, where the shootings happened, will come forward to identify them as the killers.

“We are very close to making arrests,” said Sgt. Daniel Gallagher. “This case is not unsolvable. We’re hoping someone from the community steps up.”

Gallagher said police have gathered surveillance video that shows two suspects walking toward the Chevrolet Malibu in which 74-year-old Willie Cooper was waiting to pick up a friend at about 5 a.m. in the 7000 block of South East End Avenue.

Cooper, a retired Chicago Transit Authority bus driver, was waiting to give his friend a ride to their jobs as Blue Cross/Blue Shield shuttle bus drivers.

Private security video showed two men approach Cooper’s car. After an exchange of words, a gunman shot Cooper through a window as he tried to drive away. Cooper crashed into a gate, dying of seven bullet wounds.

Chicago Public Schools security video showed the suspects fleeing through a school play lot.

About 40 minutes later, surveillance video from an apartment complex showed the suspects approach Eric “Guitar” Davis’ car in the 6700 block of East End Avenue. Davis, 41, had just left a friend’s house and was going home. Again, he and his assailants exchanged words. Then Davis put his car into gear and was shot through a window; he was hit three times.

Investigators tracked the killers’ escape route and obtained a security video of them in a gangway. The video clearly shows the faces of the suspects — a 23-year-old and a 22-year-old with extensive criminal records, police said.

On Saturday, Cooper’s fiancée, Mamie Washington, and Davis’ brother Robert Jones walked through the neighborhood with volunteers, police and CrimeStoppers officials. They distributed fliers with the suspects’ surveillance camera photos.

Many residents knew the names of the suspects and some said they were even victims of them. Residents told Washington and Jones the men were notorious for committing break-ins, robberies and other crimes. One woman said one of the suspects invaded her home and tied her up looking for drugs, but she never reported the crime to police.

But no residents would talk to police about their run-ins with the men.

A $1,000 reward from Crimestoppers for the arrest and conviction of the killers has not helped.

Surveillance image / Photo from Chicago Police

Jones said he heard several people witnessed his brother’s murder.

“Everybody in the neighborhood knows who did it,” he said. “Next time, it might be their family member.”

Washington said her fiancé was carrying only $20 when he was killed — and the robbers didn’t even get that.

“I tell people, ‘This is your chance to keep these guys from coming back and terrorizing your neighborhood,’ ” she said. “These are not animals. Animals kill for a reason. These are savages.”

Paris Brown was killed in a Monday night shooting in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood that also left a man wounded.

Brown, 21, and a man in his 20s were sitting in a parked vehicle in the 7300 block of South Perry Avenue when a dark SUV pulled up and someone inside shot them about 10:55 p.m., authorities said.

Brown, who lived on the block, was shot multiple times died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County less than an hour later, authorities said.

The man was shot in the back and leg and was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, police said.

The SUV fled north on Perry Avenue and nobody is in custody for the murder, police said.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Paul Pyron was fatally shot last month during a carjacking in the Ashburn community. Reader "Challese Harvey" posted this about him:

I watched PJ grow from a lil boy to a handsome n respectful young man. He always flashed me a bright smile when I saw him . CC and I are really going to miss u. My heart is saddened by this tragedy . Kat you are in our prayers always. Love you always PJ