Kamaal Burton / Photo from Facebook

Kamaal Burton was fatally shot Thursday night in the Altgeld Gardens community.

Burton, 18, was walking with another male near East 133rd Street and South Langley Avenue when two males walked up and opened fire, authorities said. The shooting happened near CICS Lloyd Bond elementary school.

Burton, of an unidentified home address, was shot in the chest and died at the scene, authorities said.

Burton's Facebook page indicated he graduated Urban Prep Academy in 2013. Say No More Entertainment will be having a remembrance ceremony at 7 p.m. Sunday behind Watterson Hall on the Illinois State University campus in downstate Normal.

As news of the killing spread, friends took to social media to expresses their condolences.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area South detectives are investigating.

Scene where Devonshay Lofton was shot / Photo from NVP News Video

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

A 16-year-old member of the internationally known Jesse White Tumbling Team was shot to death Thursday night in the Old Town neighborhood.

Devonshay Lofton was in the 1300 block of North Cleveland Avenue when a gunman on a bicycle opened fire about 9:20 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Devonshay, of the 1300 block of North Hudson Avenue, was hit and later died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Secretary of State Jesse White, who founded the tumbling team, said the Lincoln Park High School student had been a member of the squad for about five years.

“He was a nice young man,” White said. “He was a gentleman in every way. He was well liked and highly respected.”

Devonshay “loved tumbling” and had performed at events throughout the Chicago area, White said.

“When his name would not appear … indicating his turn for an appearance, he would always call me. I would tell him, ‘Next time I’ll put your name on the list so you will get a chance to use your skills in a manner where you can always be proud,’” White said.

“It’s a sad day for us,” he added.

Devonshay had not performed since July 4.

Devonshay was walking his girlfriend home when he was shot, family friend Carlisle Lopez told DNAinfo Chicago.

After the shooting, a police officer responding to the scene was injured when his gun discharged as he exited a vehicle, police said. The officer suffered a gunshot wound to the foot and was in good condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Contributing: Sun-Times Media Wire

Derrick Allmon / Photo from Chicago Police

BY TINA SFONDELES
Chicago Sun-Times

A gang member recently out of jail shot and killed a 9-year-old boy because he thought the child was warning rival gang members of his presence, Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said.

“This didn’t have to happen,” McCarthy said Friday after announcing the charges.

In the end, four men were charged with first-degree murder: Derrick Allmon, 19, of the 7400 block of South Shore Drive; Jabari Williams, 22, of the 1900 block of North Sycamore Street in Hanover Park; Michael Baker, 19, of the 8100 block of South Wentworth Avenue; and Paris Denard, 19, of the 7300 block of South Dorchester Avenue.

The four are accused in the Aug. 20 shooting death of 9-year-old Antonio Smith in the backyard of a home in the 1200 block of East 73rd Street.

Family members told the Chicago Sun-Times Antonio stormed out of the family apartment when his mother refused to get him a cupcake.

McCarthy said the four men were part of a group driving around in two vehicles in search of rival gang members. They stopped when they saw two potential targets and Williams gave Allmon a gun and told him to shoot both men.

Antonio Smith / Family photo

When Allmon entered a backyard he saw Antonio and, believing the child was warning the men, opened fire and shot the boy several times in the back and side, McCarthy said. Allmon was between four and 10 feet away from Antonio when the fatal shots were fired.

After the shooting, Allmon tossed the gun into a nearby sewer and fled, police said.

McCarthy said Allmon had gotten out of jail earlier in August after serving 18 months for possession of a loaded weapon. Allmon was arrested in 2012, pleaded guilty in March 2013 and was sentenced to 3 1/2 half years in prison. He was released on parole in August.

“Unfortunately this tragic murder is yet one more example of the strife being caused by gangs and guns in our community. But The real kicker to this entire case is that it didn’t have to happen,” McCarthy said. “He should not have been on the street to commit this murder.”

Williams was arrested Wednesday when police spotted him with a loaded gun. The other men were arrested Thursday.

The .380-caliber handgun used to kill Antonio was found Thursday in a nearby sewer, McCarthy said. He said the gun has been used in two shootings this year -- including a murder still under investigation.

“Chicago’s murder problem is a gun problem,” McCarthy said. “Something has to happen. It’s too easy to obtain a firearm.”

McCarthy credited investigators and community members in finding the suspects, some of which were known within the neighborhood by nicknames.

“When this murder first occurred investigators initially had very little to work with, but the nature of this murder, that a 9-year-old boy could be gunned down in cold blood, outraged both the community and our residents,” McCarthy said. “The community refused to stay silent and provided us with information that culminated in the arrest of these three offenders, all of whom are documented gang members.”

Jabari Williams / Photo from Chicago Police

Michael Baker / Photo from Chicago Police

McCarthy said there is no evidence Antonio or anyone in his family had any gang affiliation.

Antonio’s mother, Brandi Murry, said the boy had run out of their new aparmtent in the 1100 block of East 73rd Street because he was upset after she told him he couldn't have a cupcake.

Twenty minutes later, Chicago Police found Antonio behind a home in the 1200 block of East 71st Street. He had been shot multiple times and later died at Comer Children’s Hospital.

The four suspects will appear for a bond hearing on Saturday.

Dimitre Beck was fatally stabbed after police said he allegedly tried to rob somebody in the Englewood neighborhood Friday night.

Beck, 21, was with a group who approached a man in the 7300 block of South Halsted Street and tried to rob him about 10 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Witnesses said the group began started to beat the robbery victim when he resisted, police said. The victim pulled out an “edged instrument” -- possibly a knife -- and stabbed Beck.

The other attackers ran away when they saw the weapon, witnesses told police. The victim then fled as well.

Beck, of the 7300 block of South Peoria Street, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 2:46 a.m. Saturday, according to the medical examiner's office.

An autopsy ruled the death a homicide, although police called the attack self defense.

Nobody has been charged.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Markise Darling died after being shot in the West Englewood community Friday afternoon.

Darling, 19, was shot in the abdomen, buttocks and thigh in the 1600 block of West 61st Street about 2 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Residents found Darling lying on the ground and called 911, authorities said. Darling, who lived on the block, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died at 6:16 p.m. Saturday, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Davontae Harrison was fatally shot in the Humboldt Park neighborhood Saturday night.

Harrison, 21, was driving in the 3900 block of West Ferdinand Street when gunfire erupted about 6:50 p.m. Saturday and Harrison was shot in the chest, authorities said.

He kept driving until police were flagged down in the 3300 block of West Chicago Avenue, police said.

Harrison, of the 600 block of North Troy Street, 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 MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Nine people were killed in shootings and stabbings throughout Chicago last week.

Two of the murders happened over the weekend, when at least 30 others were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened when 21-year-old Davontae Harrison motorist was shot in the chest in the 3900 block of West Ferdinand Street in the Humboldt Park area about 6:50 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

He kept driving until police were flagged down in the 3300 block of West Chicago Avenue, police said.

Harrison, of the 600 block of North Troy Street, died less than an hour later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

In the West Garfield Park neighborhood, police found 16-year-old Cortez Rivers shot multiple times in the 4000 block of West Jackson Boulevard about 4:15 a.m. Saturday.

Rivers, of the 5200 block of West Quincy Street, died at Loretto Hospital about 30 minutes later, according to the medical examiner's office.

On Friday, 21-year-old Dimitre Beck was stabbed in the 7300 block of South Halsted Street and tried to rob him about 10 p.m., authorities said.

Police said Beck was part of a group that attempted to rob a man and was stabbed during the ensuing struggle.

Beck, of the 7300 block of South Peoria Street, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 2:46 a.m. Saturday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy ruled the death a homicide, but police called the attack self-defense.

In Englewood, 19-year-old Markise Darling was shot in the abdomen, buttocks and thigh in the 1600 block of West 61st Street about 2 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Darling, who lived on the block, was taken to Christ Medical Center, where he died at 6:16 p.m. Saturday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Thursday, 18-year-old Kamaal Burton was walking near East 133rd Street and South Langley Avenue when two males walked up and opened fire, authorities said.

Burton, of an unidentified home address, was shot in the chest and died at the scene, authorities said.

In the Old Town neighborhood, 16-year-old Jesse White Tumbling Team member Devonshay Lofton was in the 1300 block of North Cleveland Avenue when a gunman on a bicycle opened fire about 9:20 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Devonshay, of the 1300 block of North Hudson Avenue, was shot and later died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

On Wednesday, 19-year-old Justin Mercado was standing on a sidewalk in the 5000 block of West Wrightwood Avenue in the Belmont Cragin community when gunfire erupted about 10:50 p.m., authorities said.

Marcado, who lived on the block, was shot in the abdomen and died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center at 1:04 a.m. Thursday, authorities said. A 17-year-old boy was shot in both legs but survived, police said.

In Englewood, 19-year-old Kawantis Montgomery was in the 6100 block of South Carpenter Street when a gunman in a passing vehicle shot him about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Montgomery, of an unidentified home address, was shot in the chest and shoulder and died at Christ Medical Center less than two hours later, authorities said.

The killing started when 22-year-old Christopher McGee was shot in the chest in the 4500 block of North Magnolia Avenue in Uptown about 10:55 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

McGee, of the 4400 block of North Magnolia Avenue, died at Illinois Masonic Medical Center at 12:06 p.m. Monday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Nobody has been charged in any of the killings.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 313 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including 12 people killed by police.

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

Malcolm Warnsby / Photo from Facebook

BY KALEY FOWLER
Homicide Watch Chicago

Malcolm Warnsby was “just a regular guy” who loved to play cards and drink beer, his aunt said.

Warnsby, 54, was shot in the back in the 1100 block of North Harding Avenue about 3:25 a.m. Sept. 8, authorities said. Warnsby, of the 1300 block of North Kildare Avenue, died about three hours later at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Warnsby’s aunt, Ora Warnsby, described her nephew as a fun-loving guy with a good sense of humor.

She said Malcolm Warnsby was an army veteran, like several men in the family also served in the military.

Ora Warnsby said the family recently received approval to bury Malcolm Warnsby in the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.

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

Cortez Rivers / Photo from Facebook

A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot early Saturday in the West Garfield Park neighborhood.

Officers responding to a call of a person shot found Cortez Rivers lying in an alley in the 4000 block of West Jackson Boulevard with gunshot wounds to the chest, side and left leg about 4:15 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Rivers, of the 5200 block of West Quincy Street, died less than an hour later at Loretto Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

The teen was the seventh person shot in less than six hours throughout West Garfield Park and was found in the same block where three other people were shot about 11 p.m. Friday.

Additionally, three other people were shot less than two hours earlier about a half mile southeast in the 3900 block of West Flournoy Street.

Nobody has been charged for Rivers' murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Jesse White Tumbling Team member Devonshay Martin, 16, was fatally shot Thursday night in the Old Town neighborhood. Reader "Rachel" posted this about him:

I remember him as quiet and respectful just the other day he told me he saw me downtown It's sad a young man who I remember as a little boy was killed for having enough respect for his girlfriend to walk her home may he rest in peace

Mondele O. Heard was killed in an Ashburn neighborhood shooting that also left two other people wounded Monday night.

The three were standing outside in the 7800 block of South Homan Avenue when a maroon car pulled up, a gunman exited and opened fire about 8:40 p.m. Monday, police said.

Heard, 20, of the 7800 block of South Sawyer Avenue, was shot in the head and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, authorities said.

A 23-year-old woman was shot multiple times in the back and a 24-year-old man was shot in the left side and right hip, police said. Both were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Devontae Harrison was fatally shot Saturday night in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. Reader "Ms_Laddiii" posted this about him:

My cousin gone. I love you baby boy. Continue watching over us from heaven. RIP Vontae!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quinton Evans / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A 19-year-old South Side man was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bond Wednesday for allegedly shooting a teenage Jesse White Tumbler to death last week in the Old Town neighborhood.

Quinton Evans and his uncharged cohort were on their bicycles when they opened fire toward Devonshay Lofton and his friends, who were hanging out in the 1300 block of North Cleveland Avenue Thursday night, said Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Colleen Rogers.

Devonshay, of the 1300 block of North Hudson Avenue, was shot in the chest and died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, authorities said.

An officer on patrol heard the gunshots and was told by witnesses which direction the gunmen fled, Rogers said. That officer put out a flash message and another officer was able to chase Evans and his friends as they jumped off their bicycles and ran, Rogers said.

The second officer saw Evans pull a handgun from his waist area before he jumped under a SUV, Rogers said.

As the officer got out of his vehicle, he accidentally shot himself in the foot and the gunmen were able to escape, Rogers said.

A semi-automatic handgun recovered from the under the SUV where Evans was seen matched the casings left at the crime scene, Rogers said.

Evans was arrested for trespassing Monday in an unrelated incident. He was later identified by witnesses as one of Devonshay’s killers, authorities said.

Evans, of the 7900 block of South Stony Island Avenue, also faces misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass to state land and criminal trespass to real property.

Secretary of State Jesse White, who founded the tumbling team, said last week that Lofton, a Lincoln Park High student, had been a member of the team for about five years.

“He was a nice young man,” White said. “He was a gentleman in every way. He was well liked and highly respected.”

Devonshay “loved tumbling” and had performed at events throughout the Chicago area, White said. “It’s a sad day for us.”

Evans, who an assistant public defender said volunteered at a church, was discharged from parole in January for a 2012 weapons conviction.

He was found delinquent three times as a juvenile for robbery in 2008 and 2009. Evans was also found delinquent for an aggravated battery case in 2008.

-- Contributing: Michael Lansu

Nicholas Heisler / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A third man from Indiana was ordered held without bond Thursday for his alleged role in the murder of a retired Chicago Police sergeant last spring.

Like his alleged cohorts, 20-year-old Nicholas Heisler, of Hammond, Ind., is facing murder and home invasion charges for the March 10 incident that led to 73-year-old Elmer Brown's death.

Jeremy Mendez, 16, of Whiting, Ind., and Jesse Kazmierski, 18, of Hammond, Ind., are currently being held without bond in Cook County Jail.

Believing Brown and his wife had a lot of money in a safe, the three drove from Indiana to Chicago hoping to get their hands on the loot, said Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini.

The trio ended up taking some money, a rifle and knife from the home, Santini said.

Brown, who was shot once in the face at his home at East 115th Street and South Avenue G, died two weeks later.

The 38-year Chicago Police veteran’s wife had been lying face down on the ground when she heard a gunshot, Santini said.

When the 72-year-old woman looked up, she saw her husband lying in the hallway.

The assailant holding the weapon allegedly told Brown’s wife, “Keep your head down bitch or I’ll f––---- blow your head off too.”

Prosecutors said it was unclear who pulled the trigger because Heisler, Mendez and Kazmierski had their sweatshirts pulled tightly around their faces during the crime.

The couple was watching television when Heisler, Mendez and Kazmierski rang the doorbell, Santini said.

“Help, we need help,” one of the three allegedly said.

Brown’s wife was opening the screen door when Kazmierski and Mendez pushed their way inside, knocking the elderly woman to the floor, Santini said. Heisler remained on the porch when Brown's wife was pushed down, Santini said.

They demanded to know where the safe was and Brown told them it was located upstairs, Santini said.

After ransacking the home, the three fled to Indiana with the Brown's property, Santini said.

Heisler, who gave a statement to detectives, had told someone about the group's plan and tried to recruit that person to join them, Santini said. He also allegedly admitted to sharing the proceeds of the robbery.

Heisler is a father of one and has another child on its way, an assistant public defender said.

Cortez Rivers, 16, was fatally shot early Saturday in the West Garfield Park neighborhood.Reader "NP11124" posted this about him:

Please do not mistake this young man as a statistic or kid who was out there doing evil deeds. He was a very sweet and respectable person, he went to school everyday, passing all of his classes and had plans for his future and he didn't deserve to die like a dog in the streets. Him being out at that time of night was a mistake, but he was not and never has lived the evil life as you say. Please don't presume to know his story just by looking at his picture and reading a news article because YOU WILL BE WRONG. The family especially his mother is having a difficult time dealing with this because he wasn't THAT TYPE OF KID so have some respect and learn the facts before you pass judgement as you are not God and I'm more than positive that he lived his life well enough for the heavenly father to welcome him with open arms into Heaven.

A Riverdale man has died after being shot while riding in a vehicle early Sunday in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood.

Richard Johnson, 34, was a passenger in a vehicle traveling east in the 7700 block of South Stewart Avenue when somebody on the street opened fire just before 3 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Johnson, of the 600 block of East 133rd Street in Riverdale, was driven to Saint Bernard Hospital, authorities said. He was transferred to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he died at 9:09 p.m. Monday, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

An autopsy confirmed Johnson died of a gunshot wound to the head and ruled his death a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

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

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Mondele Heard / Photo from Facebook

BY KALEY FOWLER
Homicide Watch Chicago

Mondele Heard was a talented musician who loved to sing and dance, his friends said.

“He was just starting to get into rapping, but before that he loved to sing R&B and sometimes gospel,” said friend Briana Davis. “Singing was his thing. He could really sing.”

Heard's singing career came to an abrupt end Monday night when gunfire erupted in the Ashburn community.

Heard, 20, was standing with a group in the 7800 block of South Homan Avenue when a maroon car pulled up, a gunman exited and opened fire about 8:40 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Heard, of the 7800 block of South Sawyer Avenue, was shot in the head and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, authorities said. A 23-year-old woman and 24-year-old man were also wounded.

Another friend, Julian Smith, said Heard played high school football and trombone in the school's jazz band.

“[Heard] was never afraid to be himself,” Davis said. “He did what he wanted to do and he was his own person. He was very outgoing, very smart and very real.”

Friend Christian Jefferson added that Heard was as a loyal friend who “wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“He was a really peaceful guy,” Smith said. “I can’t recall him ever getting into it with anybody. He wasn’t violent at all.”

Davis said all of Heard’s friends were shocked by his death, and she believes the shooting was random.

“I know for a fact Mondele was not into gangbanging and he did not shoot guns,” Davis said. “Mondele was not a bad kid. Nobody deserves to die, especially somebody like Mondele.”

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

Deandre Ellis died after a shooting in a West Englewood barbershop that left two others wounded Friday afternoon.

A group entered the barbershop in the 1900 block of West 59th and opened fire about 2 p.m., police said.

Ellis, 22, of the 5700 block of South Laflin Street, was shot in the chest and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn about an hour later, authorities said.

A 44-year-old man was also shot in the chest and a 31-year-old was shot in the hand, police said. Both were taken to area hospitals for treatment.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Malachi Baldwin was killed in an Englewood shooting that left two other men injured Friday night.

The men -- ages 25, 27 and 63 -- were outside in the 5700 block of South Aberdeen Street when two people walked out of a gangway and opened fire about 10:15 p.m., police said.

Baldwin, 27, of the 5600 block of South Elizabeth Street, was shot in the head and died at the scene, authorities said.

The 25-year-old was shot in the abdomen and was hospitalized at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, police said. The 63-year-old man was shot in the hand and taken to St. Bernard Hospital.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

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

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Walter Neely / Photo from Instagram

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

A 16-year-old boy and girl have each been charged with murder in the August shooting death of artist Walter Neely near Chicago Police Headquarters.

Kenneth Brown is accused of fatally shooting Neely, 25, about 11:35 p.m. Aug. 15 in the 3400 block of South Indiana Avenue -- about a block from Chicago Police Headquarters, authorities said.

“A policeman could have been looking out the windows over there and actually see who got shot,” Neely's mother, LaDonna Coney, had said.

Neely had two small children, Tiyanna and Trevion, his mother said. He was out getting milk for his daughter when he was shot, his step-grandmother, Lula Coney, had said.

LaDonna Coney said she her son was a natural artist, and she wanted him to enroll at the Art Institute of Chicago.

“He drew animated characters, and he drew Chicago,” LaDonna Coney said. “He wasn’t a nine to five guy, and he could really draw with those markers, stencils and charcoal.”

Neely had prior success in school and graduated from Phillips Academy High School in Bronzeville a year early, his mother said.

As a younger man, Neely pleaded guilty to a 2010 drug charge and was sentenced to probation, which he completed with satisfaction, according to court records. He was currently awaiting trial on a 2013 felony gun charge, according to court records.

“He is an ex offender but he was really on the road to getting himself together,” his mother said. “He didn’t walk the streets like that anymore. I never thought my son would die on these streets, he was smart and he knew people in the streets.”

Brown, of the 3800 block of South Michigan Avenue, was identified as the shooter in a photo array and was arrested Friday, authorities said. He was charged as an adult with murder for allegedly pulling the trigger, police said said.

The 16-year-old girl, Dreyana Grooms of the 2700 block of South Dearborn Street, was also charged as an adult with murder, authorities said. Her role in the killing was not immediately known.

Both teens are expected to appear in court for a bond hearing Saturday. Police were not releasing their names because they are juveniles.

-- Contributing: Angelique White