Glenn Houston Jr. was fatally shot in the Chatham neighborhood Tuesday afternoon.

Houston, 23, was inside a store in the 400 block of East 79th Street when a gunman walked inside and opened fire about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, authorities said.

Houston, of the 7700 block of South Rhodes Avenue, was shot in the chest multiple times and died less than an hour later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, authorities said.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Abraham Cooper was fatally shot in the Austin neighborhood Tuesday night.

Cooper, 19, was shot in the chest and shoulder in the 400 block of North Lawler Avenue about 7:50 p.m., authorities said.

Cooper, of the 4800 block of West Fullerton Avenue, died less than an hour later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, authorities said.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

A 38-year-old man was found shot to death in the Austin neighborhood Tuesday night.

Police found Hakizimana Scott shot in the head in the driver's seat of a vehicle parked in the 1100 block of North Leclaire Avenue about 10:15 p.m., authorities said.

Scott, of the 800 block of North Laramie Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital less than an hour later, authorities said.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Marrecus Garrett has died after being shot in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood this month.

Garrett, 34, was shot multiple times about 8:45 a.m. Dec. 10 in the 6800 block of South Talman Avenue, police said.

Garrett, who lived on the block, initially took himself to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was declared dead at 6:51 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy confirmed Garrett died from multiple gunshot wounds and the death was ruled a homicide.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Quinton Washington / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

An 18-year-old man killed in a deadly home invasion on the Southwest Side was targeted because the group who attacked him, including a 14-year-old boy, believed that the victim had marijuana, cash and electronic equipment, prosecutors said.

Upon the culprits’ arrests, it was the scared 14-year-old boy who began “trembling” and told the police officers what had transpired, according to an arrest report.

“I wanna go home,” the juvenile allegedly told police following Ricardo Ruvalcaba’s murder.

Ruvalcaba, 18, slept as his 12-year-old brother played video games and his 16-year-old brother walked to a nearby store, prosecutors said. No adults were in the apartment.

Schanise Barfield allegedly drove up to the residence in the 5500 block of West 63rd Place with four others Monday morning.

The 16-year-old saw Quinton Washington and Diamond Gamble walk toward his apartment and then saw Nathaniel Jefferson and the 14-year-old -- who the Ruvalcabas knew -- emerge from the alley and walk up the stairs to the residence, Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Santini said.

All four then ordered the 16-year-old into the apartment at gunpoint and demanded he give them the drugs and money, Santini said.

By now, Washington, 24, and Gamble, 23, were wearing masks, but the 16-year-old recognized Washington’s maroon jacket from earlier, Santini said.

Diamond Gamble / Photo from Chicago Police

Once inside, the four suspects placed a sheet over the 12-year-old boy’s head and threatened to kill him if the brothers didn’t give up their property, Santini said.

The group proceeded to take the victims’ belongings, including electronics and a television and put them in a duffel bag,
the 16-year-old said.

It was then that the 16-year-old agreed to give the suspects money and led Jefferson, 24, toward the rear bedroom where Ruvalcaba had been sleeping, Santini said.

As he came closer, the 16-year-old began raising his voice in hopes that his older brother would hear and wake up.

Ruvalcaba, who police said had documented gang ties, was awoken when his door was opened.

Nathaniel Jefferson / Photo from Chicago Police

He got up and ran after Jefferson, Santini said.

During the chase, Washington allegedly fired the gun, striking Ruvalcaba in the stomach and chest.

Jefferson ran outside and Ruvalcaba collapsed on the front stairs, Santini said.

The 16-year-old was able to knock the gun out of Washington’s hand and take Gamble’s mask off, but he was beaten by the pair and the 14-year-old during the struggle, Santini said.

Ruvalcaba’s brothers ran to a nearby store to call 911 because the group had taken their cell phones, Santini said.

Meanwhile Barfield, 22, picked the four others up and started driving toward the West Side of Chicago where some of the group lived.

But they were stopped at 9 N. Leclaire Ave. when patrol officers noticed Barfield’s Saturn was missing taillights, according to the arrest reports.

Barfield didn’t have a license or insurance and when the officer noticed a 9 mm handgun in the trunk, all were taken to the police station, the reports said.

When the officers separated the 14-year-old from the group, he allegedly started telling them about the murder.

The older male suspects were identified and Washington implicated himself and his cohorts, Santini said.

Barfield also admitted to police that she was the getaway driver, Santini said.

Judge Peggy Chiampas ordered Washington, Jefferson and Gamble held without bond on murder and home invasion charges Wednesday.

Barfield, of the 200 block of North Leclaire Avenue, was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bond.

The 14-year-old was ordered held in custody by Juvenile Court Judge Steven Bernstein.

The boy’s mother and grandmother had walked to the Leighton Criminal Courthouse Wednesday because police told them he would be there.

“I don’t give a ---- about them. I care about him,” the boy’s mother said, upset she missed her son’s hearing at Cook County Juvenile Court.

“He’s a good kid. He started hanging out with the bad crowd ... the gang bangers.”

The 14-year-old’s mother said she knew her son smoked marijuana and knew he was going to buy some Monday when she last saw him.

He had been pretty much holed up inside his apartment since Thanksgiving when his other grandparents’ residence had the windows broken out, she said.

The mother, 34, said her boy called her after his arrest and assured her he’ll maybe face ten years in prison if he’s found delinquent.

“He was with them but he didn’t pull the trigger,” the boy’s mother said.

Schanise Barfield / Photo from Chicago Police

“His grandparents moved to Las Vegas and I had planned to send him there as well. I couldn’t get him out of Chicago quick enough.”

The 14-year-old boy’s mother said she lives near the shooting but asked her ex-husband to take her younger kids, ages 6 and 11, out of the apartment because she knows someone will seek vengeance for Ruvalcaba’s murder.

Gamble, of the 5000 block of West West End Avenue, had a warrant for his arrest and was also charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Washington, of the 4900 block of West West End Avenue, was currently on parole for aggravated battery to a police officer, Santini said.

And Jefferson, of the 100 block of North Laramie Avenue, has previous drug convictions.

Trevon Williams was fatally shot in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood Tuesday night.

Williams, 20, was shot in the chest and police found him inside a building in the 7800 block of South Lowe Avenue about 8:55 p.m. Tuesday, authorities said.

Williams, of the 6400 block of South Lowe Avenue, died at the scene, 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

A 52-year-old man was killed in a Christmas Day domestic shooting that left another man wounded in the North Lawndale community.

Dennis Jones was and a 42-year-old man were shot in the 1900 block of South Trumbull Avenue about 6 p.m. authorities said.

Jones, of the 4900 block of West Augusta Boulevard, was shot in the chest and leg, authorities said. He was declared dead at 8:22 p.m. Thursday at Mount Sinai Hospital.

The other man was shot in the leg and took himself to Mount Sinai Hospital, police said.

After the shooting, a male relative thought to be the gunman fled in a blue vehicle, police said.

Nobody has been charged with murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

David Drayton was fatally shot in the Grand Boulevard neighborhood Friday afternoon.

Drayton, 23, was shot multiple times in the 300 block of East 47th Street about 2:45 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Drayton, of the 6400 block of South Harvard Avenue, died less than an hour later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

Tyler Ellis / Family photo

BY BECKY SCHLIKERMAN AND REEMA AMINA
Chicago Sun-Times

It started as a fist fight.

But it was settled with a gun.

And ten days after Tyler Ellis was shot in the head in Altgeld Gardens, the 15-year-old died Friday night.

Chicago’s latest teenage victim of gun violence lived with his mother in the Far South Side housing project.

“I don’t even know how to feel,” his mom Yolanda Hurt said. “I don’t have a heart right now because I’m heartbroken. I really want justice for what happened to my baby.”

Tyler was shot Dec. 16 just before 8 p.m. in the 600 block of East 133rd Street, authorities said.

He lived in the 700 block of East 131st Street, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

He had been at a friend’s house and was on his way home when the brother of a boy that had fought Tyler earlier came back with a gun, Hurt said.

After the initial rounds of fire knocked Tyler down, the shooter “stood over him and finished shooting,” Hurt said. Her son was shot six times.

Hurt said she doesn’t know what the earlier fist fight was about. But her son, she said, wasn’t in a gang.

He was a 9th grader at Larry Hawkins, a Chicago International Charter School, and he played drums at church, boxed, skateboarded and loved technology.

For Christmas, Hurt bought her son electronics, including a laptop, speakers and video games.

‘He’s not even here to open it,” she said.

Tyler, known as “Silk,” was known at school for his hair, which he dyed a rich bronze and styled in twists.

Police had nobody in custody Saturday night. Hurt said she wants witnesses to come forward.

The family is also asking for financial help to bury the teen. A cousin, 24th Ward Republican Committeeman Larry G. Nelson, said anyone seeking to help can call him at (773) 458-9512.

A vigil is planned for Sunday at 4:30 at 133rd and Langley Avenue.

July 18 shooting in the 400 block of East 45th Place / Photo by Alex Wroblewski

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Chicago could record its lowest murder total in nearly five decades for the second consecutive calendar year, despite an increase in shootings in 2014.

Chicago Police reported 390 murders through Dec. 20, while the Cook County medical examiner’s office reported 410 homicides, including 16 fatal police shootings, during the same period. There have been at least 10 additional homicides and one fatal police shooting since then.

Police, which follow federal guidelines when counting murders, determined some of the homicides were self-defense or accidents.

The numbers represent a 2 to 4 percent decrease in killings from 2013, and a 19 to 20 percent decrease from the unusually high 2012, when there were 504 murders. It would be fewest killings in any year since the 397 slayings in 1965.

While the citywide murder total remained nearly identical to last year, some communities saw higher totals.

“While the data shows Chicago has seen the fewest murders and lowest crime rate in decades, the ultimate measure of our success is how our residents feel in their communities,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said.

On the Northwest Side, the Humboldt Park community went from 14 killings in 2013 to 25 through Thursday — the largest increase in the city.

Despite the jump, Ald. Walter Burnett (27th), whose ward includes a violent portion of Humboldt Park near Chicago Avenue, said he believes police programs are working, and the rise in murders was partially caused by a recent spike in gang activity.

“We have embedded crime in this area — we always have,” Burnett said. “[Police] were bringing it down earlier in the year, and then it started back again … I think having police walking around in these challenging areas, building relationships with the people in the neighborhood, will go a long way.”

Robert Tracy, Chicago Police chief of crime control strategies, confirmed that several gang conflicts led to increased violence and noted that the Harrison District, which includes the southwest portion of the Humboldt Park community, has the most “impact zones” in the city.

“Crime adjusts from our deployments and our strategies,” Tracy said of the area. “Are we in the right areas? Are we ahead of these gangs? We are trying to stay one step ahead, and we are trying to deploy in the right places and look at the right people. … We just have to see what we are missing, and we have to do better. We are doing evaluations on a daily basis.”

While some communities saw large increases in murders, others saw drastic declines.

The South Shore community went from 26 slayings in 2013 to 14 through Thursday of this year.

Tracy credited Grand Crossing District Cmdr. James E. Jones and other leaders for the turnaround in the South Shore area.

“If you don’t have the right people, you aren’t going to see the success,” Tracy said. “We put a plan in place, they executed them properly and we started seeing dramatic results.”

While many areas saw drastic changes in their murder totals, the Austin community, the most populous in the city, had only a slight increase but remained the community with the most slayings for a second consecutive year.

The Rev. Ira Acree, of Austin’s Greater St. John Bible Church, 1256 N. Waller, said he believes economic desperation has contributed to crime, and he called on elected officials to promote urban renewal in the community.

“We still have a lot of problems with unemployment and underemployment,” Acree said. “Economic desperation prompts people to resort to desperate measures … we are not savages over here.”

Emanuel says reducing crime involves more than just policing.

“We will continue building on our comprehensive policing and prevention efforts, and expanding on our partnership with community leaders, faith leaders, and residents to ensure everyone in every neighborhood in Chicago enjoys the same sense of safety,” Emanuel said. “Until we have achieved that important goal, our work together will not be complete.”

While the city’s overall murder total remained close to 2013, the same cannot be said about the number of people shot. More than 2,500 people were wounded by gunfire through Dec. 20 — a 13 percent increase from 2013. The total was, however, a 14 percent decrease from 2012.

On the Near West Side, Stroger Hospital, the state’s largest trauma center, treated more than 570 victims of gun violence in the first 11 months of 2014.

“We don’t see our patients as statistics. We treat every patient as an individual and take immense pride in the care we provide to victims of senseless gun violence,” said Dr. Faran Bokhari, chairman of the hospital’s Department of Trauma and Burn. “Our team and our survival rates are exceptional. We work closely with our patients during their medical and emotional recovery and have increased our efforts at prevention so that we may avoid the loss of life and the grave disability that shootings and other traumas confer.”

July had the most shooting incidents with 248 and the most shooting victims with 323. August had the most murders with 41.

July 11 shooting near Evergreen & Rockwell / Photo by Alex Wroblewski

In an effort to decrease crime, the city started or expanded several new policies in 2014, including boosting its custom notification program to make more personal visits to those involved in active gang conflicts, putting more officers on the street in high crime areas over the summer and investing in more bike patrol officers.

Despite the rise in shootings this year, Chicago is in line with the national Great Crime Decline that has spanned more than 20 years, Yale sociologist Andrew Papachristos said.

The city has gone from 943 murders in 1992 to 633 in 2000 to just over 400 in each of the past two years. Papachristos noted changes in policing, education and community organizations as some of the factors for the decline.

“Chicago is both unique and not all that special at the same time,” Papachristos said. “The whole country is experiencing the Great Crime Decline, and Chicago’s trend mirrors that. … Chicago has one of the largest murder totals, but rates are really important when comparing things of different sizes. Chicago is not more violent than other cities; it is New York that has experienced unusually large declines. We are comparable [in total number] to New Orleans, which has about 300,000 people.”

Danial Zaffar was fatally shot in the West Ridge neighborhood early Saturday.

Police found Zaffar shot in the head in an alley in the 5700 block of North Campbell Avenue about 5 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Zaffar, 18, of an unidentified home address, was declared dead at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

An autopsy confirmed Zaffar died of multiple gunshot wounds and the death was ruled a homicide.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

James D. Bradley was fatally shot in the Austin neighborhood Sunday morning.

Bradley, 34, was driving in the 900 block of North Lockwood Avenue when someone opened fire about 5:30 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

After being shot multiple times, Bradley drove a block south and crashed in the 800 block of North Lockwood Avenue, authorities said.

Bradley, of the 1600 block of West Ogden Avenue, died at the scene, authorities said.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Dominic Delk was shot to death in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood Saturday night.

Delk, 25, was shot in the head during a drive-by shooting in the 1500 block of East 73rd Place about 8:35 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Delk, of the 1200 block of West 115th Street, was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he was declared dead at 7:45 a.m. Sunday, 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

Two men were killed in a Back of the Yards shooting that left another person wounded Sunday night.

The three were shot during a drive-by shooting in the 5000 block of South May Street about 3:40 p.m., authorities said.

Bobby Norwood, 24, of the 5000 block of South Aberdeen Street, was shot in the chest and died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County less than an hour later, authorities said.

A 29-year-old man was shot in the back and died at the scene, police said. The medical examiner’s office has not confirmed the second death as of Monday morning.

The third man, 25, was shot in both legs and his right arm, police said. He was hospitalized in serious condition.

Nobody has been charged for the murders.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Marcae Rogers / Photo from Chicago Police

Two men have been charged with murder in the Friday afternoon killing of David Drayton in the Grand Boulevard neighborhood.

Drayton, 23, was shot multiple times in the 300 block of East 47th Street about 2:50 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Drayton, of the 6400 block of South Harvard Avenue, later died at John H Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Officers located 32-year-old Marcae Rogers and 22-year-old Terrell Monroe after a civilian provided detailed information, police said.

Rogers, of the 5400 block of South Damen Avenue, and Monroe, of the 7200 block of South Eberhart Avenue, were each charged with first-degree murder.

Both men are expected to appear in court for a bond hearing Monday.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Terrell Monroe / Photo from Chicago Police

Reginald Jones / Family photo

BY KIM JANSSEN
Chicago Sun-Times

A man fatally wounded on New Year’s Eve at a South Side tire shop was a gregarious, churchgoing devoted father of three, relatives said Thursday.

The violent death of Reginald Jones, they said, makes no sense.

Jones had been self-employed as a tow truck driver for around eight years and worked all the hours he could, even going out late to give a a stranded motorist a tow on Christmas Day, his sister Brandy Jones said.

“Every man has things he keeps to himself, but he never said anything about any problems he had with anybody,” his sister said, acknowledging that her brother’s job “could be dangerous.”

The shooting occurred about 2:30 p.m. at the tire store in the Avalon Park neighborhood on the South Side, police said. A gunman approached Jones, 33, at the shop in the 8000 block of South Stony Island Avenue. Rodriguez Rims & Tires is listed at 8024 S. Stony Island Ave. The gunman shot him multiple times and ran away, police said.

Her brother “was always the life of the party” and liked to host cookouts for his large, close family and friends at Jesse Owens Park and the 31st Street Beach, Brandy Jones added.

“He was always talking with his mouth full — he talked so fast, like an auctioneer, that we all said he should do that for a living.”

“He was an encourager, always affectionate and unafraid to show emotion,” his mother Judy Jones said.

Jones grew up on the South Side and attended Bowen High School and Salem Baptist Church, his mother said. He adored his daughter Kirya, 14, and his sons Kylan, 7, and Kamaron, 6, she said.

Kylan and Kamaron would wear his cologne and “always smelled like their father,” relatives said.

They also shared his love of old cars and could identify every vehicle on the road, Brandy Jones said.

Jones was planning to spend New Year’s Eve with his family, but was instead rushed to Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center on the back of a flat bed truck after he was shot by a gunman in a ski mask, she added.

“It was faster than waiting for an ambulance, but he was dead before he got there,” she added. “One life taken has affected one thousand hearts.”

Jones, of the 8800 block of South Cornell, was pronounced dead at 2:55 p.m., authorities said.

His mother had no idea why he’d been killed. “I wish I knew,” she said.

Randy James was fatally shot in the Austin neighborhood early Saturday in the city's first slaying of 2015.

James, 39, was standing on a sidewalk in the 5000 block of West Superior Street when he was shot in the abdomen area about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

James, of the 4600 block of West Adams Street, took himself to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, which later transferred him to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he died about 5:50 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Two men were shot to death in Chicago last week in the final killing of 2014 and the first slaying in the new year.

The most recent killing happened when 39-year-old Randy James was shot in the 5000 block of West Superior Street about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, authorities said.

James, of the 4600 block of West Adams Street, died later that morning at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the medical examiner's office.

The slaying was the first in Chicago in 2015.

The killing started when 33-year-old Reginald Jones was shot at a tire shop in the 8000 block of South Stony Island Avenue about 2:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve, authorities said.

Jones, of the 8800 block of South Cornell Avenue, died less than an hour later at Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Jones had been self-employed as a tow truck driver for around eight years and worked all the hours he could, even going out late to give a a stranded motorist a tow on Christmas Day, his sister Brandy Jones said.

Nobody has been charged for either murder.

Timothy W. Quirk, 51, was fatally stabbed during an argument in the West Ridge neighborhood. Reader Suzanne Andersen posted this about him:

I went to school with and grew up with Tim Quirk. He was always a nice and funny guy...I can't imagine somebody doing this to him at all...but when alcohol is involved, you never know how people will react to certain situations. Very sad news for we, his former classmates. I hope his family finds justice quickly. Nobody has the right to take anothers' life...that's up to the ALMIGHTY to decide that...not some pissed off thug!

Larry Edwards was fatally shot in the Chatham neighborhood late Monday.

Edwards, 24, was sitting in a parked car in the 9300 block of South Burnside Avenue when a group exited an alley and at least one person opened fire about 11:40 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Edwards, of the 1300 block of West 109th Street, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn about an hour later, 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