Laquisha Hickman / Photo from Facebook

BY EMILY BROSIOUS
Homicide Watch Chicago

LaQuisha Hickman was "a loving mother and loyal friend," a longtime friend said.

Hickman, 37, was fatally shot June 9 by longtime boyfriend Edward Prince during a domestic incident -- apparently stemming from a quarrel over her ending their relationship, officials said.

Hickman attended Dunbar Vocational High School, where she was a cheerleader and member of the marching band, said friend Shawn Parker. As an adult, Hickman worked as a pharmacist, but “her main interest was her kids,” Parker said.

“She was a good student.” Parker said, “She helped me with homework and never got in trouble.”

Parker said he dated Hickman briefly in high school and they remained friends. Parker said he was friendly with Hickman’s mother and sister, but had never met Prince.

“She was very close with her family," he said. “I just don’t believe this happened, it’s crazy.”

Authorities said that Hickman filed a domestic battery report against Prince the day before the shooting, but he had left the house in the 3500 block of West 79th Place before police arrived.

Prince, 36, allegedly returned to the house the next morning and went on a shooting rampage around 8:55 a.m., authorities said. Prince allegedly killed Hickman and 23-year-old Nykole Loving before turning the gun on himself, authorities said.

Parker said he’d recently seen Hickman, and was shocked to hear the news of her death.

“I’ll remember her as a loving mother and loyal friend,” Parker said. “She will always have a place in my heart.”

-- Contributing: Chicago Sun-Times

Christopher Jones, 16, was found shot to death Sunday morning in a Roseland gangway. Reader "Xris Bell" posted this about him:

We swam together at Pullman Park. Chris you will be missed. Love to your family, your four little brothers and two sisters. May God bless each of them. Peace, Mz. Xris.

A 54-year-old woman was intentionally struck by a vehicle Tuesday morning in a fatal hit-and-run crash in the Calumet Heights neighborhood, authorities said.

Sharon Bonds was struck be a vehicle in the 9100 block of South Euclid Avenue about 5:30 a.m., authorities said. The motorist fled the scene after the crash and has not been charged, police said.

Bonds, of the 8800 block of South Oglesby Avenue, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. An autopsy determined she died of multiple injuries from being struck by the vehicle and the death was ruled a homicide.

The police Major Accident Investigation Unit and Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Sonny Ortiz has died after being shot multiple times then crashing an SUV early Thursday in the River West neighborhood.

Authorities said Ortiz was shot while inside a parked vehicle. After being shot, Ortiz attempted to drive away, but crashed into a parked vehicle and light pole in the nearby 1200 block of West Chicago Avenue about 12:20 a.m., authorities said.

Kris Bailey, 36, said he ran out of his nearby home when he heard the gunshots. Bailey said he saw a brown bumper on the ground and a light blue SUV speeding away.

Ortiz, 34, of the 3600 block of North Austin Avenue, was shot numerous times in his back and died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital less than an hour later, authorities said. An autopsy is scheduled for later Thursday.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

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

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Derrick Bowens was fatally shot June 5 outside his Englewood home. Reader "Eddoe" posted this about him:

R.I.P DB one of the coolest person I ever met and would put it on you the court.

Scene where Eddie Jones was shot / Photo by Alex Wroblewski

A 54-year-old man was fatally shot Wednesday night in Englewood.

Eddie Jones had just gotten out of a car to talk with another person in the 6500 block of South Sangamon when a gunman walked out of a nearby gangway and opened fire about 10:50 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Jones was shot in the head and died at the scene, authorities said. His home address was not immediately available.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

PHOTOS BY ALEX WROBLEWSKI
For Chicago Sun-Times

Eddie Jones was fatally shot late Wednesday in Englewood. Police said he had just gotten out of a car to talk with another person in the 6500 block of South Sangamon when a gunman walked out of a nearby gangway and opened fire.

A 56-year-old man was killed in a drive-by shooting Thursday afternoon in the Austin neighborhood.

Albert Glover was in the 100 block of North Leamington Avenue about when a vehicle pulled up and someone inside fired shots about 1:35 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Glover, who lived on the block, was shot in the back and left leg, authorities said. He died less than an hour later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

BY EMILY BROSIOUS
Homicide Watch Chicago

While nearly 82 percent of Chicago's 610 homicides since the start of 2013 have been from shootings, 49 people have been stabbed to death.

During that time, the percentage of women stabbing victims was significantly higher than the percentage of women gunshot victims, according to Cook County medical examiner's office data.

Of the 49 fatal stabbings, 16 were females. And while women made up nearly 33 percent of fatal stabbing victims, they made up only about 0.5 percent of shooting victims in the past 18 months.

In addition to being female, stabbing victims were older than people who were fatally shot. Since the beginning of 2013, the average age of stabbing victims were about 34, while the average age of shooting victims are about 27.

Overall, about 8.5 percent of all homicides in the city since the start of 2013 were stabbings -- making it the second most common type of murder.

The percentage is consistent with the fatal stabbing rate over the past 10 years, which ranged from about 6.5% to 11.5%, according to Chicago Police's annual murder reports and information from the medical examiner's office. Stabbing data from 2012 was not immediately available.

While the Cook County medical examiner's office ruled 49 Chicago deaths as homicides from stab or incised wounds, the Chicago Police Department has called some of those deaths self defense, and have not classified them as murders.

Of the cases police classified as murders, a much higher percentage of attackers are charged in stabbings compared to shootings.

The state's attorney's office charged suspects in nearly 70 percent of all stabbing cases since the start of 2013, authorities said. In 2013, police cleared about 30 percent of all murders, including the stabbings.

-- Contributing: Michael Lansu

Tony Ervin was stabbed to death Friday night in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood.

Ervin, 28, was stabbed during a fight at his home in the 6000 block of South Sacramento Avenue about 10:30 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Ervin died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 11:11 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Area Central detectives are questioning a person of interest, but no charges had been filed as of Saturday morning.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Alfred Barnett died Friday night from injuries suffered in a Monday night shooting in the West Englewood neighborhood.

Barnett, 40, was shot in the groin area in the 6900 block of South Laflin Street about 5 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Barnett, of the 7200 block of South Rockwell Street, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 9:42 p.m. Friday, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Barnett also went by the name Kenneth Martin, authorities said.

An autopsy found Barnett died from the gunshot to the groin, and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Ronnie Amos was fatally shot Saturday morning in the Humboldt Park area.

Officers found Amons, 42, shot in the 3600 block of West Chicago Avenue about 8:55 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Amos, 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.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Darius Smith / Photo from Chicago Police

Darius M. Smith has been charged with murder for allegedly fatally stabbing Tony Ervin Friday night in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, police said.

Smith, 23, and Ervin got into a fight at Ervin's home in the 6000 block of South Sacramento Avenue about 10:30 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

During the fight, Smith pulled out a knife and stabbed Ervin in the chest, authorities said.

Ervin, 28, died less than an hour later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. An autopsy ruled the death a homicide.

Smith, of the 6300 block of South Albany Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder and ordered held on $500,000 bond, authorities said. He is scheduled to be back in court Monday.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Eight people were murdered throughout Chicago last week, including three people in their 50s.

The slayings included shootings, a stabbing and a woman intentionally struck by a vehicle.

While at least 36 people were shot over the weekend, the only fatality happened when 42-year-old Ronnie Amos was found shot in the 3600 block of West Chicago Avenue about 8:55 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

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

On Friday, 23-year-old Darius M. Smith allegedly stabbed 28-year-old Tony Ervin during a fight at Ervin's home in the 6000 block of South Sacramento Avenue in the Chicago Lawn community about 10:30 p.m., authorities said.

Ervin, 28, died less than an hour later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Smith, of the 6300 block of South Albany Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder, police said.

On Thursday, 56-year-old Albert Glover was in the 100 block of North Leamington Avenue in Austin when a vehicle pulled up and someone inside fired shots about 1:35 p.m., authorities said.

Glover, who lived on the block, was shot in the back and left leg, authorities said. He died a short time at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office.

In the River West neighborhood, 34-year-old Sonny Ortiz was shot while inside a parked vehicle then attempted to drive away, authorities said. He crashed into a parked vehicle and light pole in the nearby 1200 block of West Chicago Avenue about 12:20 a.m. Thursday, police said.

Ortiz, of the 3600 block of North Austin Avenue, died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital less than an hour later, authorities said.

On Wednesday, 54-year-old Eddie Jones had just gotten out of a car to talk with another person in the 6500 block of South Sangamon in Englewood when a gunman walked out of a nearby gangway and opened fire about 10:50 p.m., authorities said.

Jones was shot in the head and died at the scene, authorities said. His home address was not immediately available.

On Tuesday, 54-year-old Sharon Bonds was intentionally struck by a vehicle in the 9100 block of South Euclid Avenue about 5:30 a.m., authorities said.

Bonds, of the 8800 block of South Oglesby Avenue, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office. An autopsy determined she died of multiple injuries from being struck by the vehicle and the death was ruled a homicide.

On Monday, 40-year-old Alfred Barnett was shot in the groin area in the 6900 block of South Laflin Street about 5 p.m., authorities said. He also went by the name Kenneth Martin.

Barnett, of the 7200 block of South Rockwell Street, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 9:42 p.m. Friday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The killings began when 46-year-old Andre Knight was shot in the back of the head in an alley behind his home in the 4800 block of West Concord Place about 4 a.m. Monday, authorities said. Knight died less than an hour later at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 187 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.

Johnny Reese / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Johnny Reese drove a gunman to shoot another man as part of an ongoing dispute, prosecutors said. The bullet instead struck a 37-year-old mother of three attending a nearby party on Mother’s Day weekend.

Reese, 23, was outside near South Aberdeen Street and West 113th Place when he saw a 27-year-old man with whom he had an ongoing dispute get into the passenger’s seat of a car about 7:50 p.m. May 9, said Assistant State’s Attorney Alex Molesky.

Reese and another person then got into a Chevrolet Suburban, which Reese drove a short distance to block the intersection, Molesky said. The other person then got out of the SUV and opened fire on the car, she said.

At least one of the bullets struck 37-year-old Summer Moore as she was walking near a front yard in the 11400 block of South Aberdeen Street, authorities said. Family members said she was attending a party to celebrate a teenage relative’s prom send-off when the gunshots rang out.

Moore, of the 3100 block of West Marquette Road, was shot in the chest and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

“We heard gunshots, and we started to run,” Moore’s cousin, Chant’e Moore, said after the shooting. “We all was running towards the house. People were falling over one another.”

The 22-year-old driver of the car attempted to flee in reverse, but crashed into a parked car, Molesky said.

Reese and the gunman fled, but the shooting was captured on video surveillance, Molesky said. Reese was later identified by eyewitnesses as the driver, she said.

Summer Moore / Family photo

Reese, of the 11400 block of South Union Avenue, was still charged with two counts each of murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm, police said. The gunman has not been charged as of Thursday afternoon, but source said he was being questioned by detectives.

On Monday, Reese appeared in court dressed in a black T-shirt and black shorts. Judge Laura Sullivan ordered him held on $1 million bond.

Reese was convicted of a misdemeanor gun charge in 2008 and a misdemeanor cannabis charge in 2011.

Reese has a 2-year-old child and works as a Tribune deliveryman, his lawyer said.

He will be back in court July 18.

Darius Smith fatally stabbed Tony Ervin during a Friday night fight at Ervin's Chicago Lawn home, authorities said. Reader Staci Walker posted this about him:

Tony affectionately known as Tone Tone, was a great person, loyal, loving and funny. He was like a son to me, and he will be truly missed, never forgotten. I pray that the young that committed this senseless and premediatated [sic] murder is punished to the fullest extent of the law.
I pray for that young mans mother as well, just as No Mother wants to have bury her child, No mother wants to see her child in jail for the rest of his life, if he deserves it or not.
All of this Killing must stop !!!!!!!
We Love you Tone Tone...Rest In Heaven little baby

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Chicago Police have announced that through the first six months of the year there were nine fewer murders than in 2013 and 79 less than in 2012.

Police reported 171 murders through June 29. During that time, the Cook County medical examiner's office tallied 180 homicides. The difference comes from cases detectives ruled self-defense or involuntary manslaughter.

Both numbers are a decrease from the first six months of 2013, when police reported 180 murders and the medical examiner's office reported 180 homicides.

In 2012, the city saw an uptick in murders as Chicago Police reported 250 slayings through the first six months of the year, a drastic increase from the 186 through the same time the year before.

While murders were down in the first six months of 2014, shooting incidents and victims increased.

Chicago Police reported 880 shooting incidents and 1,103 shooting victims through the first six months of 2014, an increase from the 833 incidents and 1,018 victims last year.

However, the first six months of 2014 saw fewer shooting incidents and victims than during the same time period in 2011 and 2012.

A map of all the 2014 homicide victims can be found here.

William Paschal / Photo from Chicago Police

William Paschal has been charged with murder in the shooting death of college student Kevin Baker in January in the Chicago Lawn community.

Paschal, 18, of the 7200 block of South Artesian Avenue, was also charged with two counts of armed robbery with a firearm, police said.

Baker, 19, was walking with his cousin in the 6200 block of South Campbell Avenue when two people got out of a van and demanded their cell phones about 4:15 p.m. Jan. 16, authorities said.

After the two handed over their phones, one of the men shot Baker in the head, authorities said. It was not immediately known if Paschal was the shooter.

Baker, of the 6200 block of South Maplewood Avenue, died two days later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Baker was on his way back from class at Harold Washington College when he was shot, said neighbor and family friend Earnestine Barnette. Baker, an only child, was studying to be a veterinarian.

“That was an innocent kid. He didn’t have anything to do with nothing out there,” she said.

Paschal is scheduled to appear in bond court Tuesday.

-- Sun-Times Media

PHOTOS BY ALEX WROBLEWSKI

Michael Patton was fatally shot in the 600 block of East 50th Place in the Grand Boulevard community during Monday night's thunderstorms.

Scene where Michael Patton was fatally shot / Photo by Alex Wroblewski

Michael Patton was was killed in a Monday night shooting in the Grand Boulevard neighborhood that left another left another teenager wounded.

Michael, 17, and a 15-year-old acquaintance were talking to several people in a black van in the 600 block of East 50th Place when somebody inside the van opened fire about 10:40 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Michael was shot in the chest and the 15-year-old was struck in the upper right arm, authorities said.

Michael, of the 600 block of East 51st Street, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy confirmed he died of multiple gunshot wounds.

The 15-year-old boy was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital, police said.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire