Lynell Bradley Jr. was killed in a West Englewood shooting that also left another man injured early Sunday.

The men were in a van stopped at a red light in the 1400 block of West 71st Street when a tan SUV pulled up and somebody inside opened fire about 3:20 a.m. Sunday, police said.

Bradley, 21, of the 6500 block of South Laflin Street, was shot multiple times and died about an hour later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, authorities said.

The other man in the van was also shot numerous times and was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for treatment, police said.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire, Network Video Productions

BY EMILY GRAY BROSIOUS
Homicide Watch Chicago

Alexander Villafane named his youth football program after his second-favorite NFL team, the New England Patriots, family said.

The 39-year-old football coach did not get to see the Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX this month because he was fatally shot in the head while working on a vehicle less than a week before the game, family said.

Villafane was replacing a stolen catalytic converter when he was wounded during a Jan. 25 drive-by shooting in the 3500 block of West 24th Street, family said.

Villafane, of the 2300 block of South St. Louis Avenue, died two days later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

“I’m at a complete loss ... I would never imagine, in a million years, out of all the things that could happen, something like this.” said Villafane's stepdaughter, Jennessa Martinez.

She said her stepfather dedicated his life to keeping children on the football field and off the streets.

Villafane started the Humboldt Park football team with his brother about 10 years ago as a way to help at-risk youths, family said. He coached more than 300 children, many of whom went on to play high school or college football, Martinez said.

“It’s hard to see that the very thing he was fighting against was the thing that took his life,” she said.

Relatives described the father of four as a “family man” who was a "role model" to many.

Alexander Villafane / Family photo

“He just taught me so much as I grew up in life,” said Villafane's godson Angel Del Valle. “He didn’t give up on me. He worked with me, he worked with many of the other kids that were on the bench to better themselves so they can become better people.”

The family believes Villafane’s shooting might have been a case mistaken identity.

Witnesses only told relatives that a gunman inside a passing minivan shot Villafane, the family said during a press conference calling for more police cameras in the area.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Family members are asking anyone with information about Alexander Villafane’s murder contact Area Central detectives.

Janice Coleman / Submitted photo

BY CHANTELLE NAVARRO
Homicide Watch Chicago

Janice Coleman cared for more than her nine children and 24 grandchildren -- she also frequently helped relatives and neighbors, family said.

“If she wasn’t taking care of the kids, she was taking care of the elderly in our family,” said Coleman's niece, Dornise Pewett.

Coleman, 48, was stabbed to death during a Feb. 8 gathering inside a home in the 11300 block of South Parnell Avenue in the Roseland community, authorities said.

Prosecutors claim 57-year-old Chris Moore fatally stabbed Coleman when she attempted to leave with another man. Moore is being held in Cook County Jail on $1 million bond while he awaits trial for murder.

Pewett described Coleman as a caring person who was always helping others.

“It didn’t matter if she didn’t know you. She would still take you in with a smile and cook for you,” Pewett said.

In addition to cooking, Coleman enjoyed telling stories with family members, dancing and braiding hair, Pewett said.

Coleman would always use a term of endearment towards others to make them feel loved, according to Pewett, who said the last time she spoke to Coleman she offered to do her hair.

“She had a gift with her hands,” Pewett said.

Pewett said Coleman would help people in the neighborhood who needed it most.

“She treated everyone equally,” Pewett said. “She didn’t see your handicap, she just saw you as a person.”

Assistant Public Defender Kelly McCarthy noted Coleman's alleged killer is a war veteran on disability from a previous “attack on his life.”

Deshawn Johnson / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A murder suspect who allegedly killed a Chinese restaurant employee because he only got $20 from a hold-up after demanding fried rice escaped from custody and sprinted from a courtroom Friday before he was tackled to the ground by a Cook County prosecutor.

“Get him! Get him” Judge Peggy Chiampas screamed as 26-year-old Deshawn Johnson ran past lawyers and spectators and through the door of Courtroom 101 at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.

Assistant State’s Attorney Barry Quinn, who quickly tailed Johnson, pulling off the suspect’s coat, was able to the tackle Logan Square man just feet outside the courtroom.

“I started feeling all these bodies on top of me,” a gray pin-striped suit wearing Quinn later said of the half dozen sheriff’s deputies who joined the frenzied tackle.

Johnson wasn’t ready to be taken back into custody.

“Kill me. Kill me now because I don’t want to go back,” Johnson screamed as he was pinned down.

Johnson was eventually taken into custody, kicking and screaming and Quinn was applauded by his co-workers for his efforts.

Just minutes before, Chiampas ordered Johnson held without bail for the October murder of 40-year-old Chang Qui and two separate armed robberies.

Johnson killed Qui because he wasn’t happy with the small amount of cash Qui gave him during the Halloween incident at the See Thru Chinese Kitchen at 5279 W. Madison St., said Assistant State's Attorney Enrique Abraham.

Johnson initially came into the restaurant and demanded fried rice.

But when Qui told him there were no fried rice orders waiting, Johnson became angry, Abraham said.

When Qui took money from the next customer -- a woman who was seven months pregnant -- Johnson allegedly pulled out a black pistol and held Qui up.

Qui refused to give Johnson money, prompting Johnson to fire two to three times, striking Qui in the back and thigh, Abraham said.

Johnson then pointed his weapon at the pregnant woman who hid beside a garbage can, Abraham said.

The woman begged for her life and told Johnson she was pregnant.

Johnson paused for a several seconds before running out, Abraham said.

Johnson is also charged with taking $600 from the Logan Liquor Store and shooting an employee in the right leg at the business at 2639 N. Kedzie Ave., Abraham said.

The victim in the June 21 holdup survived but cannot run and still undergoes physical therapy.

Roughly a month later, Johnson allegedly held up David Food and Liquor at 3158 W. Montrose Ave.

In that armed robbery, Johnson took two bottles of vodka and demanded money once he got to the register, Abraham said.

Chang Z. Qui / Photo from Cook County Crime Stoppers

An employee gave $1,500 but Johnson still fired his weapon, as other customers, including two little girls, looked on, Abraham said.

Luckily, an employee dodged the bullet, which struck a liquor bottle behind him, only leaving him with a soaked shirt.

Johnson left that business but then came back a few minutes later to wipe his fingerprints off the counter and front door.

However, dropped his cell phone, which officers were able to use to track him down, Abraham said.

Police recovered a gun from Johnson’s residence, in the 5200 block of W. Quincy Street, Abraham said.

It was determined that the shell casings from all three incidents most likely came that weapon, Abraham said.

Johnson allegedly gave a handwritten statement of his involvement in the two liquor store armed robberies and a videotaped confession of the fall murder.

He was also captured on surveillance footage from the David Food and Liquor incident and clothes he wore that day were found in his apartment, Abraham said.

Witnesses from the July and October armed robberies also identified him, Abraham said.

Julio Ramos was killed in a drive-by shooting in the Bucktown neighborhood late Thursday.

Ramos was sitting in an SUV parked in the 2000 block of West Fullerton Avenue when a gray pickup truck pulled up and somebody inside opened fired about 11:40 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Ramos, 30, of the 4000 block of West Oakdale Avenue, was shot in the head and died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center at 3:17 a.m. Friday, authorities said.

An area man said he was watching television when he heard four gunshots. The man said when he looked out the window he saw people running around and then police arrived minutes later.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

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

-- Sun-Times Media Wire, Network Video Productions

Timothy Jones / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A Cook County jury was sequestered late Friday night after it failed to determine the fate of a South Side man charged with the murder of a woman who was killed when a Chicago Police squad car slammed into her during a high-speed chase the man initiated following an alleged holdup.

In addition to Jacqueline Reynolds’ murder, 22-year-old Timothy Jones is also charged with home invasion, armed robbery and residential burglary.

During Jones’ three-day trial, defense attorney Keith Spence argued that the officers pursuing his client were responsible for Reynolds’ death because they neglected to follow department policy and procedures by driving recklessly on May 8, 2013.

Reynolds’ death was tragic, Spence said in his closing arguments, but “it wasn’t Tim’s fault.”

Reynolds, who was in her 50s, was killed when Gresham District patrol officer James Sivicek’s police Tahoe rammed into her blue car in the 2400 block of East 76th Street, causing her to hit another vehicle and sending him into a tailspin.

Sivicek said he immediately tended to Reynolds as Jones fled.

Jones had been erratically barreling through the streets alone at a high rate of speed after his friends had gotten out of his cousin’s car and ran, prosecutors said.

Before that, Jones and one of his pals allegedly held up Lee Davis at his apartment in the 7800 block of South Ellis Avenue and took cash, Air Jordan gym shoes, an iPad, an iPhone and several bank cards.

Earlier Friday, Jones took the stand, admitting to jurors that he ran through red lights and stop signs during the chase but only because he saw an officer waving a gun at him before he sped down 76th Street.

“There’s a guy behind me with a gun. I’m not going to stop for no one,” said Jones.

The former college football player also said he feared for his life after Davis threatened him and a friend with a weapon when they came to recoup money he said Davis owed him for the illegal credit card business they operated together.

Jones said Davis opened the door for him voluntarily that spring morning.

Jacqueline Reynolds / Photo from ABC7 Chicago

But Davis testified that he didn’t know Jones and only opened the door to his first-floor apartment because he thought it was his girlfriend, who had just left to go on a shopping trip.

Jones, who said he never had a firearm on him the day of the incident, claimed he never knew there was a crash and that Reynolds died after his arrest.

He confessed he lied to detectives when he was interrogated because two years ago he was just a “kid.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Barbara Bailey said Jones was “hiding” the truth, and said it was laughable that he insisted he was honking his horn warning other motorists as he eluded police.

“His running ends today. He’s responsible for all the actions he set in motion. He’s responsible for this fatality,” she said.

Judge Thaddeus Wilson asked the jury--who had several questions during nearly four deliberations--to return Saturday morning.

Malcolm Tompkins was fatally shot in the Englewood neighborhood Friday afternoon.

Officers responding to a call of shots fired in the 5600 block of South Green Street found Tompkins unresponsive about 5:45 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Tompkins, 25, of the 5600 block of South Peoria Street, was declared dead 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 South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Demarcus Adams was fatally shot in the Uptown neighborhood Saturday night.

Adams, 28, was standing outside in the 4600 block of North Malden Street when a gunman walked up and shot him in the back and leg about 5:05 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Adams, of the 4400 block of North Racine Avenue, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

After the shooting, the gunman drove away in a silver car, police said.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

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

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Four men were shot to death throughout Chicago last week.

Two of the men were killed over the weekend, when at least eight other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened when office found 26-year-old Swan Lockhart shot in the 2000 block of West 69th Place in the West Englewood neighborhood about 2:30 p.m. Sunday, police said.

Lockhart, of the 7100 block of South Honore Street, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn about an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

On Saturday, 28-year-old Demarcus Adams was shot multiple times in the 4600 block of North Malden Street in the Uptown neighborhood about 5:05 p.m., authorities said.

Adams, of the 4400 block of North Racine Avenue, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Friday, police found 25-year-old Malcolm Thompkins shot in the 5600 block of South Green Street in the Englewood neighborhood about 5:45 p.m., authorities said.

Tompkins, of the 5600 block of South Peoria Street, was declared dead less than an hour later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The killing started when 30-year-old Julio Ramos was shot in the head while sitting in an SUV parked in the 2000 block of West Fullerton Avenue in the Bucktown neighborhood about 11:40 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Ramos, of the 4000 block of West Oakdale Avenue, died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center at 3:17 a.m. Friday, authorities said.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 45 Chicago deaths in 2015 a homicide.

Swan Lockhart was fatally shot in the West Englewood neighborhood Sunday night.

Police responding to a call of a person shot in the 2000 block of West 69th Place found 26-year-old Swan Lockhart shot in the hip about 2:30 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Lockhart, of the 7100 block of South Honore 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 if the shooting is gang related, police said.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Edwin Cook / Submitted photo

BY CHANTELLE NAVARRO
Homicide Watch Chicago

Drummer Edwin Cook wanted to go to college to pursue a career in music, family said.

"Ever since he was little, the whole family can remember him getting two sticks and just drumming ... on a pot, the floor, your head if he could," said Cook's aunt, Johneece Cobb. "He would beat on everything."

Cook, 19, will never get the chance to pursue a career in music because he was fatally shot Jan. 21 in the 6600 block of South Oakley Avenue in the Chicago Lawn community, authorities said.

Police said he was standing on a sidewalk when a black vehicle pulled up and a gunman exited and opened fire about 9 a.m. that day.

Cook, of the 6600 block of South Bell Avenue, was shot multiple times and died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

"He was not a gang member," Cobb said. "He was a victim of where he lived."

Family members said Cook had dropped his mother off at work about an hour earlier, and was on his way to school when he was shot.

His last words to his mother were, "I'll see you at four," when he got home from school, Cobb said.

Edwin Cook as a child / Family photo

As a child, Cook attended Claremont Academy Elementary School, where he was a member of a drum line, family said.

"Our whole family loved music, but he was just so inspired by it," Cobb said. "He wanted to go to Columbia College Chicago and purse his career in music."

As a youth, Cook got into trouble, but eventually refocused his attention on school, family said.

"He knew he messed up in school," Cobb said. "He matured and came up to the realization that school was the only way out."

Cobb noted that Cook's schoolwork improved tremendously up until his death.

"He had a passion for school, but you can tell that peer pressure was getting to him," Cook said.

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

Timothy Jones was convicted Feb. 21 of the murder of Jacqueline Reynolds after a Chicago Police car slammed into her during a high-speed chase Jones initiated following a residential burglary. Reader Dionne Stewart Smith posted this about the killing:

Jackie was a personal freind [sic] of mine..and I couldn't be happier at the outcome. This young man had a choice to make when he woke up that morning. He could've been a productive law abiding citizen or break the law. His decision put into play my friend's death and one of the worst phone calls I've ever had to receive at work.

Albert S. Turnage was killed in a Rogers Park neighborhood shooting that left another man critically wounded early Wednesday.

Officers responding to a call of a person shot in the 1700 block of West Touhy Avenue found two men wounded in an alley about 4:10 a.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Turnage, 23, was shot in the chest and the 30-year-old man had been shot in the arm, back and shoulder, authorities said.

Turnage, of the 1700 block of West Greenleaf Avenue, died at Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston about two hours later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The other man was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in critical condition, police said.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Demarcus Nelson was killed in an Austin neighborhood shooting that left two other men wounded Wednesday afternoon.

Nelson, 20, was part of a group sitting inside a vehicle in the 4600 block of West Maypole Avenue when gunfire erupted about 3:10 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Nelson, of the 700 block of North St. Louis Avenue, was shot in the arm, back and neck and died at Mount Sinai Hospital less than an hour later, authorities said.

An 18-year-old man in the vehicle was shot in the face and taken in critical condition to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, police said.

A 24-year-old man in the car was also wounded and was treated and released from Stroger Hospital, police said.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Derrius Drakes / Photo from GoFundMe.com

Derrius Drakes was fatally shot in the Roseland neighborhood Wednesday afternoon.

Drakes, 23, was standing outside in the 11300 block of South Parnell Avenue when a gunman shot him in the back about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Drakes, of the 200 block of West 112th Street, took himself to Roseland Community Hospital, where he died less than 15 minutes later, authorities said.

A GoFundMe.com page was set up to help raise money for funeral services. According to the site:

Derrius Lemuel Drakes Sr. was a hard working father and family man. He was attending Everest for Dental assistance also working to support his family. He was a great friend and his smile lit up every room and heart he was ever welcomed into. He was not and has never been a bad person just simply at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Homicide Watch Chicago, Sun-Times Media Wire

A 60-year-old man was shot to death in the Roseland neighborhood Wednesday night.

Police found Bernard Monroe lying on the ground near his home in the 11400 block of South Prairie Avenue about 7:20 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Monroe had been shot in the head and was declared dead at the scene, authorities said.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Otis Harriel / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

A 47-year-old father fatally shot a man who allegedly directed his daughter to a Back of the Yards home, where she was beaten and robbed at gunpoint in April 2014, prosecutors said.

Martavian Emery and his 20-sister were walking to a restaurant on April 25, 2014, when Otis Harriel's daughter asked Emery where she could buy marijuana, said Assistant State's Attorney Sarah Karr.

Emery directed Harriel's daughter to a house in the 5400 block of South Winchester Avenue, where she was pistol whipped and robbed at gunpoint, Karr said.

Early the next day, Harriel confronted Emery for information about the robbery and threatened those responsible, Karr said.

A witness saw a gun inside Harriel's hooded sweatshirt, and Emery and the witness entered the home where the robbery happened, Karr said.

A short time later, shots were fired through a window of the home, prosecutors said. Police said Harriel was standing in the rear of the residence when he fired shots into the second floor.

Emery, 21, was inside the kitchen area of a home and was shot in the chest and died at the scene, authorities said.

A 20-year-old woman sleeping in a bedroom was shot in the left knee and treated at Mount Sinai Hospital, authorities said.

Harriel was arrested May 26, 2014, and had a .38 caliber gun in his possession, authorities said. Ballistics tests confirmed the bullets recovered from Emery were fired by that gun, Karr said.

Martavian Emery / Photo from Facebook

The witness identified Harriel in a lineup, and he was charged Thursday with murder and aggravated battery, authorities said.

Harriel, 47, of the 1400 block of South Canal Street, was convicted of possession of a controlled substance in 1989, manufacturing or delivery of cocaine in 1990, burglary in 1999, possession of a controlled substance in 2011 and has a pending armed habitual criminal charge, according to court records.

Harriel receives social security checks and has mental health issues, according to his defense attorney.

Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. ordered Harriel held without bond during a Friday court hearing.

"You are a danger," Bourgeois said to Harriel.

Harriel will be back in court March 18.

-- Contributing: Rummana Hussain

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Chicago had one fewer killing this February compared to last February, but slayings remain higher than last year after a violet January.

Chicago Police reported 19 murders in February 2015, one less killing than last February and six more than February 2013. The 19 slayings were more than a 20 percent decrease from the 27 murders in February 2012 and the 24 in February 2011.

Despite the slight decrease in February killings, the city still has a 20 percent increase in murders this year compared to last year after a 40 percent increase in murders in January.

Overall, police reported 48 murders through the first two months of this year compared to 40 during the same period last year. While police reported an increase murders compared to last year, the 48 killings were less than the 53 in 2013, 65 in 2012 and 52 in 2011.

The Cook County medical examiner's office, which counts killings different, reported 49 homicides through the first two months of the year.

“While we have made significant progress in reducing crime over the past two years, a result of strategic policing and growing partnerships with residents and community leaders, there is certainly much more to be done,” Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said in a statement.

Much like murders, the number of shooting victims this February remained similar to last February.

Police said 70 people were shot this February compared to 74 last February. The 70 shooting victims is also a decrease compared to the 88 people shot in February 2013, 141 in February 2012 and 76 in February 2011.

Overall, police said 206 people have been shot so far this year, a 14 percent increase compared to the 180 people through the first two months of last year.

While the number of people shot are up compared to last year, it remains down compared to the 278 people shot in through the first two months of 2013, 308 in 2012 and 237 in 2011.

“We will continue building on our community policing philosophy, putting more officers in high crime areas, intervening in gang conflicts, and fostering stronger relationships with the communities we serve,” McCarthy said.

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Four men were shot to death throughout Chicago last week.

All four killings happened last Wednesday, which was then followed by one of the city's longest stretch without a murder so far this year.

The killing started when police found 60-year-old Bernard Monroe shot in the head near his home in the 11400 block of South Prairie Avenue about 7:20 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said. Monroe was declared dead at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

In the Roseland neighborhood, 23-year-old Derrius Drakes was shot in the back in the 11300 block of South Parnell Avenue about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Drakes, of the 200 block of West 112th Street, took himself to Roseland Community Hospital, where he died less than 15 minutes later, authorities said.

In the Austin community, 20-year-old Demarcus Nelson was shot multiple times while sitting in a vehicle in the 4600 block of West Maypole Avenue about 3:10 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Nelson, of the 700 block of North St. Louis Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital less than an hour later, authorities said. Two other men inside the vehicle were also wounded, police said.

The killing started early Wednesday when police found two men shot in an alley in the 1700 block of West Touhy Avenue about 4:10 a.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Albert S. Turnage, 23, of the 1700 block of West Greenleaf Avenue, was shot in the chest and died at Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston about two hours later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The other man was shot multiple times and survived, police said.

On Sunday, Chicago Police announced that there was one less murder this February compared to last February, but there have still been more killings during the first two months of this year than last year after a violent January.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 49 Chicago deaths in 2015 a homicide.

Derrius Drakes, 23, was fatally shot Feb. 25 in the Roseland community. Reader "Keebler Martinez" posted this about him:

He definitely was on the ball [and] had just returned from the military, working going to school supporting his family and his son. He was doing great and we all [are] still proud of his maturity.