Deonte Hoard / Photo from Facebook

BY MICHAEL O'BRIEN AND MICHAEL LANSU
Chicago Sun-Times

Deonte Hoard waved goodbye to the Urban Prep-Englewood boys basketball team Monday afternoon and then headed home, a coach said.

Hoard, a 17-year-old senior, was a member of the team until December, when he was dismissed for eligibility issues.

Hoard was walking in the 10500 block of South Yates Avenue when gunfire erupted from a black SUV about 7:20 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Hoard, 17, of the 10500 block of South Oglesby Avenue, was shot in the chest and died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office, which ruled the death a homicide.

Hoard’s former teammates were warming up on the court at St. Laurence High School when he was shot.

“It’s awful,” said Urban Prep-Englewood coach Fred Cleveland. “We saw him when he was leaving. He was waving at us. He was on his way home. [If he was still on the team] he would have been playing last night. [The coaches] found out at halftime but we didn’t tell the team until after the game.”

Urban Prep founder and CEO Tim King said in a statement that Hoard attended the school's Englewood campus.

“He was one of my favorite kids in the building, he was tough,” Carter said. “This Friday he was supposed to get his red and gold tie.”

Hoard was the first Urban Prep student to be killed while enrolled in one of the schools. The network of all-boys public schools founded in 2002, according to the charter schools' website.

Hoard was a member of the track team and had been admitted to several colleges, King said.

“He kept trying to get back on the [basketball] team over and over again,” said Urban Prep-Englewood assistant coach Dwayne Carter. “It just never worked out.”

Hoard was scheduled to receive the ceremonial tie Friday at the "On to the Next One Ceremony" for seniors who had been admitted to college.

"We will remember a young man full of promise and potential, well-liked by teachers and friends, and loved by his family," King said.

Police said a 23-year-old man was also wounded in the shooting and was treated for a graze wound to the head at Advocate Trinity Hospital.

Urban Prep will be "providing support" to Hoard's family and offer grief counseling to students and staff, King said.

“He was just a friendly person,” said Brandon Sparkman, a teammate and friend of Hoard’s at Urban Prep-Englewood. “He was the type of guy that just never got mad about anything.”

Police said a 23-year-old man was also wounded in the shooting and was treated for a graze wound to the head at Advocate Trinity Hospital.

Urban Prep will be "providing support" to Hoard's family and offer grief counseling to students and staff, King said.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Contributing: Sun-Times Media Wire

Reginal Brown / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A North Lawndale man was ordered held in lieu of $350,000 bond Tuesday on charges of endangering the life of a 2-year-old boy who died from methadone poisoning while under his care.

Reginal Z. Brown was babysitting Mickel Brown June 18, 2014, in his first-floor apartment when the toddler ingested the synthetic opioid, which is commonly used as a painkiller and to treat narcotic addiction, authorities said.

Brown had a previous relationship with Mickel’s mother and babysat him occasionally, said Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Barry Quinn.

Mickel’s mother had dropped the boy off at Brown’s residence three days before he died, Quinn said.

The night before Mickel’s death, Brown’s girlfriend -- a heroin user -- slept over and left the cup of methadone she had been drinking in the room she stayed in with Brown and the child, Quinn said.

In the morning, Brown, 36, saw Mickel take the cup from the windowsill and put it to his lips.

But instead of taking the cup away, he allegedly left Mickel in the room and went back to the kitchen of the apartment in the 1400 block of South Kedvale Avenue.

Minutes before, two other people in the apartment heard a slap and saw Brown take Mickel to the bedroom for spilling his cereal, Quinn said.

Fifteen minutes later, the toddler crawled out of the bedroom and then slumped against the washing machine, Quinn said.

When one of the guests noticed the child was limp and extremely sleepy, Brown said the boy was “faking it” and took him back to the bedroom, Quinn said.

Hours later, Brown called 911 and attempted CPR on Mickel, Quinn said.

By this time, his guests had left but three relatives had stopped by to see their bedridden uncle who also lived in Brown’s apartment.

When the trio saw the ambulance arrive after they had been there for 15 to 20 minutes, they asked Brown why he didn’t tell them Mickel was there, Quinn said.

They also asked him why he hadn’t yelled for help while tending to the child, Quinn said.

Mickel was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

An autopsy determined Mickel died of methadone toxicity and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services initially launched an investigation into allegations of abuse and neglect at the time of Mickel’s death, authorities said.

Brown will be back in court March 23.

Malcolm Tompkins / Photo from Facebook

BY CHANTELLE NAVARRO
Homicide Watch Chicago

Andrea Tompkins' last words to her brother were "I love you," she said.

Malcolm Tompkins, 25, was fatally shot hours later when he went to pick up Chinese food Feb. 20 at the New China Wok restaurant in the Englewood neighborhood, family said.

“That’s all he called me for earlier that day, just to say I love you,” Andrea Tompkins said. “He didn't even have a phone, but he would always call just to check up on me.”

“He was the happiest person you could ever meet,” said Andrea Tompkins. “He was that was one person you could always turn to call ... Even if he didn't know you, he would help you with anything."

Family said Malcolm Tompkins was such a positive person they could not remember a time he ever got upset.

Malcolm Tompkins was a "family-oriented" man who often spent time at home with his older brother and 2-year-old son, his mother, Francie Tompkins, said.

Malcolm Tompkins, who worked in construction rehabbing houses and had a ferocious appetite for doughnuts, enjoyed watching SpongeBob SquarePants with his son and was determined to be present for every milestone in his child's life, Francie Tompkins said.

“He was there for his son literally every step of the way,” Francie Tompkins said.

On the night Malcolm Tompkins was killed, police found him shot multiple times in the 5600 block of South Green Street about 5:45 p.m., authorities said. Tompkins was declared dead less than an hour later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

"The restaurant called and said that he hadn't picked up the order. We're only two blocks away, and he's a fast walker," Tompkins told DNAinfo Chicago. "We sat there for hours just waiting for him to come home."

It wasn’t until later that relatives realized he was killed less than a block away from his home in 5600 block of South Peoria Street,family said.

Family said Tompkins was not in a gang, but court records indicated he has been charged numerous times, most recently a 2014 drug charge.

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

One man was killed and two others were wounded when gunfire erupted during a home invasion Tuesday afternoon in the Avalon Park community.

Police said at least one person forced their way into a home in the 8000 block of South Dante Avenue about 1:20 p.m. Tuesday.

Gunfire erupted at some point during the home invasion and 28-year-old Antinino Walker was shot multiple times, authorities said.

Walker, of the 6500 block of South Champlain Avenue, was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he died at 9:17 p.m. Tuesday, authorities said.

A 20-year-old man was shot in the arm and taken in good condition to Jackson Park Hospital, police said.

A 24-year-old man, who police called the intended victim of the home invasion, was shot in the neck and taken in good condition to Stroger Hospital, police said.

Police did not say who fired the shots or if Walker and the 20-year-old man were suspects or victims of the home invasion.

No charges have been filed as of Wednesday morning.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Urban Prep-Englewood student Deonte Hoard was fatally shot March 2 in the South Deering neighborhood. Reader "naqee" posted this about him:

I go go to school with him I never really knew him I wish I got to know him

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Israel Taylor was ordered held on $700,000 bond Friday for allegedly being at a gunfight that left his acquaintance dead and two others wounded Tuesday afternoon in the Avalon Park community.

Taylor and Antinino Walker went with an acquaintance to collect a dice game debt from a 25-year-old man in the 8000 block of South Dante Avenue, said Assistant State's Attorney Jamie Santini.

When the 25-year-old saw the group approaching his residence, which he shared with family members that includes his grandmother, he grabbed a handgun and went to a side door, Santini said.

Taylor then pulled out a gun and shot the 25-year-old in the neck through the side door, Santini said. The 25-year-old then pulled out his gun and returned fire, prosecutors said.

During the gunfight, Walker was shot in the back and Taylor in the arm, Santini said.

Walker, 28, of the 6500 block of South Champlain Avenue, was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where died later that night, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Taylor, 21, was treated at Jackson Park Hospital and the 25-year-old was treated at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, authorities said.

Detectives identified Taylor as the person who fired first that led to the gun fight that killed Walker, Santini said.

Taylor was charged with first-degree murder and Judge Laura Sullivan ordered him held on $750,000 bond.

Taylor's attorney, Michael Clancy, argued that the shooting was a "mutual combatant situation." Clancy claimed it was the 25-year-old who came out of the house shooting and said Walker being shot in the back "speaks loudly."

Clancy said Taylor did not have a gun and did not owe anybody money.

"At best, he was along for the ride," Clancy said.

The acquaintance with Taylor and Walker was not wounded and has not yet been charged, authorities said.

Taylor will be back in court March 24.

-- Contributing: Rummana Hussain

Scene where two men were fatally in Pilsen / Photo from NVP

Two men were fatally shot in the Pilsen neighborhood early Saturday.

Johnathan Ramirez, 18, and Santos Bueno, 22, were sitting inside a vehicle parked in the 1000 block of West 18th Street when a gunman walked up and opened fire about 1:30 a.m., authorities said.

Ramirez, of an unidentified home address, and Bueno, of the 7900 block of South Kilpatrick Avenue, were each shot multiple times and died at the scene, authorities said.

Louis Patino said he was at a nearby party when the gunfire erupted.

"A bunch of people were looking through the window and we all got curious," Patino said. "They were just screaming, 'Somebody got shot! Somebody got shot!'"

Nobody has been charged for the killings.

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

-- Sun-Times Media Wire, Network Video Productions

Juan Martinez was stabbed to death in the Back of the Yards neighborhood Saturday afternoon.

Martinez, 40, was standing with his girlfriend in the 2000 block of West 47th Street when a man the couple knew confronted them about 4:10 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

During the confrontation, the 39-year-old man pulled out a knife and stabbed Martinez multiple times, authorities said.

Martinez, of the 4600 block of North Central Park Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital less than an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Martinez' girlfriend was not injured, authorities said.

Police said the attacker is in custody and charges were pending Sunday afternoon.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

A woman and teenage boy were found dead in a Woodlawn apartment Sunday night in what police are calling an apparent murder-suicide.

Officers went to 17-year-old Steven Griffin's home in the 6500 block of South Kimbark Avenue about 6:30 p.m. Sunday after a relative called police and requested a well-being check, authorities said.

When nobody answered a knock at the door, the officers forced their way inside, police said.

Police found 25-year-old Linda Soto, of the 3400 block of Harlem Avenue in Berwyn, dead on the floor after being shot multiple times, authorities said.

Griffin was lying nearby with a gunshot wound to his mouth, authorities said.

Autopsies on both bodies are scheduled for later Monday.

Area South detectives are investigating the killing as a murder-suicide, police said.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Five people were fatally shot and one person was stabbed to death last week in Chicago.

Four of the killings happened over the weekend, when at least 16 other people were shot and wounded.

The most recent slaying happened when police performing a well-being check found 25-year-old Berwyn resident Linda Soto shot multiple times and 17-year-old Steven Griffin dead with a gunshot wound to his mouth in an apparent murder-suicide in his home in the 6500 block of South Kimbark Avenue about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

On Saturday, 40-year-old Juan Martinez was stabbed while standing with his girlfriend in the 2000 block of West 47th Street in the Back of the Yards community about 4:10 p.m., authorities said.

Martinez, of the 4600 block of North Central Park Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital less than an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

On Saturday, 18-year-old Jonathan Ramirez and 22-year-old Santos Bueno were shot inside a vehicle parked in the 1000 block of West 18th Street in the Pilsen neighborhood about 1:30 a.m., authorities said.

Ramirez, of an unidentified home address, and Bueno, of the 7900 block of South Kilpatrick Avenue, were each shot multiple times and died at the scene, authorities said.

On Tuesday, 28-year-old Antinino Walker was shot when gunfire erupted during a home invasion in the 8000 block of South Dante Avenue in the Avalon Park community about 1:20 p.m., authorities said.

Prosecutors said Walker and two acquaintances went to the home to collect money from a dice game when gunfire erupted and he was shot in the back.

Walker, 28, of the 6500 block of South Champlain Avenue, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County hours later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

One Walker's acquaintances, 21-year-old Isreal Taylor, was charged with his murder. The other acquaintance has not yet been charged.

The killings started when 17-year-old Deonte Hoard was shot in the chest while walking in the 10500 block of South Yates Avenue about 7:20 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Hoard, of the 10500 block of South Oglesby Avenue, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Hoard was a senior at Urban Prep-Englewood, where he had been a member of the basketball and track teams, school officials said. He had been accepted to several colleges.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 55 Chicago deaths in 2015 a homicide.

Frank Butler / Photo from Chicago Police

Frank Butler has been charged with murder in the August 2013 Englewood shooting death of Andre Bradford, authorities said.

Bradford, 26, was walking on a sidewalk in the 1600 block of West 59th Street when gunfire erupted about 9:15 p.m. 27, authorities said.

Bradford was shot in the back of his head and emergency personnel found him unconscious, authorities said.

Bradford, of the 5700 block of South Hermitage Avenue, died about an hour later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Butler, 26, of the 8200 block of South Sangamon Street, was identified as the suspected shooter in Bradford's death and officers arrested him about 6 p.m. Saturday in the 7700 block of South Ashland Avenue, police said.

Butler was charged with first-degree murder and is expected to appear in court later Monday for a bond hearing, police said.

Vicente Salgado / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

A Southwest Side man was ordered held on a $1.5 million bond Monday after prosecutors claimed he fatally stabbed his estranged wife's new boyfriend during a confrontation outside a Back of the Yards neighborhood Burger King.

Vicente Salgado and his estranged wife met at a Burger King restaurant in the 2000 block of West 47th Street about 4:15 p.m. Saturday, said Assistant State's Attorney Enrique Abraham.

The woman did not want to speak to Salgado alone and brought her new boyfriend, 40-year-old Juan Martinez, who did not sit with the estranged couple while they talked, Abraham said.

During their conversation, Salgado insisted his estranged wife move back in with him and the woman stood up and left the restaurant with Martinez, Abraham said.

Salgado followed them outside and attacked Martinez by the drive-thru, Abraham said.

Martinez was stabbed multiple times in the face and suffered slice wounds on his arms after he raised his hands to defend himself, prosecutors said.

One of the stab wounds to Martinez' chest struck an artery and he bled into his chest, Abraham said. Salgado continued to stab Martinez after he fell to the ground, prosecutors said.

When a witness pulled Salgado away from Martinez, Salgado cut the witness' thumb and ran away, Abraham said.

Police found Salgado on a bus about four blocks away, Abraham said. Salgado had turned his blood-soaked sweater and jeans inside out, prosecutors said.

Martinez, of the 4600 block of North Central Park Avenue, died at Mount Sinai Hospital less than an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office, which ruled the death a homicide.

Salgado's estranged wife and multiple witnesses identified Salgado as the attacker, Abraham said.

Salgado, 39, of the 4500 block of South Honore Street, was charged with first-degree murder, police said.

Salgado, who was born in Mexico, has lived in Chicago for 15 years and has worked as a cook the entire time, according to his public defender. He currently lives with his 12-year-old daughter.

Judge Peggy Chiampas ordered Salgado held on $1.5 million bond and said he must surrender his passport if he posts bail.

Salgado will be back in court March 27.

BY STEFANO ESPOSITO AND MITCH DUDEK
Chicago Sun-Times

A 52-year-old woman was taken into custody Monday morning in connection with the death her granddaughter, a 7-month-old girl whose neck was slashed with a circular saw in the Little Village neighborhood.

Investigators suspect the woman used the saw to stop the child from crying, a police source said.

Family members told authorities that the woman, who had been taking care of 7-month-old Rose Herrera in a house in the 2800 block of South Avers Avenue, had been taking antidepressant medication, authorities said.

Authorities responding to a 911 call arrived at the home about 9:30 a.m. and found Rose, who was pronounced dead on the scene, authorities said.

A police source said the grandmother stuffed a sock in the girl’s mouth, struck her in the head with a pipe wrench and then cut her neck and shoulder with the circular saw. She then cut her own neck with the saw.

The woman was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital with the self-inflicted wounds, police said. Her condition had stabilized.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has no record of previous contact with the family, DCFS spokeswoman Veronica Resa said, citing initial reports.

Ben Llamas stood outside the home on Avers Monday morning. He said his best friend, who shows him pictures of his new baby every day, lives in the house.

Llamas, who works with his friend at a grain elevator, said his pal became distraught after receiving a phone call Monday morning while on the job.

“He seemed upset. I said, ‘You can’t drive.’ So I brought him here.’ ”

Llamas said his friend had moved into that house about a year ago with a woman. Together the couple had a young child, Llamas said.

“At first, he was reluctant, but when the baby came, he fell in love,” Llamas said. “He shows us pictures of that baby every day.”

The young woman’s parents live there as well, Llamas said.

A neighbor said the family live on the second floor of the building, while the owners of the property live on the first floor.

-- Contributing: George Slefo

Scene where a baby was found dead / Photo by Stefano Esposito

Scene where a 77-year-old man was fatally shot / Photo by Mitch Dudek

BY MITCH DUDEK
Chicago Sun-Times

A 77-year-old man was killed and his granddaughter and two great-grandchildren were wounded Monday evening in a shooting in the Roseland neighborhood.

The shooting occurred about 6:30 p.m. in the 200 block of West 105th Street, police said. The elderly man -- identified by relatives as Odell Branch Sr. -- was with his 5-year-old great-grandson watching TV in a home. Branch and the 5-year-old were injured when bullets came through a window, police said.

His 34-year-old granddaughter was placing his 2-year-old great-grandson in a vehicle outside when they were shot.

Branch was shot in the head and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died, police said. The Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed the death.

The 5-year-old also was taken to Christ Medical Center with a gunshot wound in his arm, police said. His condition had stabilized.

Branch’s granddaughter was shot in the chest and left hand. The 2-year-old was shot in his right shoulder, police said. Chicago Police took the boy to Roseland Community Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition. The woman also was taken to Roseland, but her condition was not disclosed.

As of Monday night, several people were in police custody being questioned in connection with the shooting, which police said was gang-related. A police source said there were several shooters.

Four generations of family members lived at the house, friends and family said.

Branch was a deacon at his local church and worked the grill at church barbecue fundraisers, said his niece, Diane Branch. He had been retired for years, she said.

“He was just a good guy,” longtime neighbor Maurice Hall, 40, a chef, said of Branch. “He’d drive kids from the neighborhood to the YMCA and things like that . . . We’re just in shock, trying to understand why.”

“He was a pillar of the neighborhood,” said neighbor Angela Carter, who works an assisted living home. “There’s shootings around here all the time.”

Earlier Monday, a man was fatally shot in the Uptown neighborhood on the North Side. About 7:35 p.m., another man was shot and killed in the Washington Heights neighborhood on the South Side, police said. Five other people were injured in shootings on the South and West Sides.

Also, a 7-month-old girl died after her throat was cut with a power saw Monday morning in the Little Village neighborhood.

Over the weekend, two people were shot to death and 16 were wounded in shootings.

“It’s like this all the time. It’s bad,” said Betty Poole, a CTA bus driver who lives in the Roseland neighborhood. “Everybody makes promises about how they can change, but we haven’t seen it.”

-- Contributing: Sam Charles

Larry Hardwin Jr. was fatally shot in the Washington Park neighborhood Monday night.

Officers responding to a call of shots fired found Hardwin on a sidewalk in the 9200 block of South Ada Street about 7:35 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Hardin, 26, of the 1400 block of East 90th Street, was shot in the head and died at the scene, authorities said.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Manuela Rodriguez / Photo from Chicago Police

BY SUN-TIMES STAFF

A 52-year-old woman has been charged with murder after her 7-month-old granddaughter's neck was slashed with a circular saw in the Little Village neighborhood on Monday.

Manuela Rodriguez, of the 2800 block of South Avers Avenue, is charged with one count of first-degree murder, according to Cook County state’s attorney’s office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton. A bond hearing Wednesday.

Investigators suspect the woman used the saw to stop 7-month-old Rose Herrera from crying, authorities said.

Family members told authorities the woman, who had been taking care of Rose in the house, had been taking antidepressant medication.

Authorities responding to a 911 call arrived at the home about 9:30 a.m. Monday and found the baby dead on the scene, police said.

A police source said the grandmother stuffed a sock in the girl’s mouth, struck her in the head with a pipe wrench, then cut her neck and shoulder with the circular saw. She then cut her own neck with the saw.

A Tuesday autopsy determined she died of blunt force injuries to the head, with suffocation from a sock being placed in her mouth a contributing factor, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Her death was ruled a homicide.

She was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital with the self-inflicted wounds, police said. Her condition had stabilized.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has no record of previous contact with the family, spokeswoman Veronica Resa said, citing initial reports.

Ben Llamas stood outside the home on Avers Monday morning. He said his best friend, who shows him pictures of his baby every day, lives in the house.

Llamas, who works with his friend at a grain elevator, said his pal became distraught after receiving a phone call Monday.

“He seemed upset. I said, ‘You can’t drive.’ So I brought him here.’ ”

Llamas said his friend moved into that house about a year ago with a woman, and her parents live there as well.

A neighbor said the family lives on the second floor of the building, while the owners of the property live on the first floor.

Scene where a baby was found dead / Photo by Stefano Esposito

Dominique Parkman / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

When someone was shot and killed over a gold necklace in 2012, several young men blamed each other for the death, prosecutors said.

The fight grew so bitter that a year later, one of the men, Dominique Parkman, of Blue Island, allegedly gunned down another from the feuding group.

Parkman, 24, was extradited to Chicago this week from Miami for the murder of Jauan Lewis on May 23, 2013.

Lewis had been riding in a car with his friends and his 3-year-old son when he saw Parkman and his friends walking. Lewis had the driver turn around and park in the 11600 block of South Vincennes Avenue, said Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Cooper.

Lewis, 22, and his pals got out and started arguing with Parkman and his friends. Lewis and Parkman continued bickering about the 2012 murder as the dispute died down and the others moved away, authorities said.

At some point, Parkman removed a silver gun from his waistband and started shooting at Lewis, who tried to run to the car but was struck in the back by four bullets, Cooper said.

Lewis’ friends ran, taking Lewis’ son to a nearby backyard, Cooper said.

Parkman and his buddies also ran away, Cooper said.

Parkman was ordered held on $2 million bond Wednesday for Lewis’ murder.

Parkman’s mother is a nurse and his father owns a clothing store on the South Side, an assistant public defender said. Parkman used to work at ADT Security and cares for a brother, who was paralyzed in a car accident, the assistant public defender said.

Parkman will be back in court March 30.

Manuela Rodriguez / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

After Maneula Rodriguez allegedly stuffed a sock deep down her 7-month-old granddaughter’s throat, bashed the infant’s head with a metal pipe wrench and used a motorized circular saw to slash the baby’s neck, chest and shoulder, she called her sister to tell her what she had done, prosecutors said.

“I did it,” Chicago Police claim Rodriguez said in Spanish when officers arrived on the bloody scene in the Little Village two-flat on Monday.

“I killed her.”

Rodriguez, who cut her own throat, allegedly admitted to paramedics and detectives that she viciously attacked Rose Herrera because she wanted her to stop crying while she babysat.

In court Wednesday, Rodriguez’s attorney, Ignatius Villasenor, said his client has a “diminished mental capacity” and tried to seek help with her problems before the tragedy.

Judge Maria Kuriakos-Cecil held 52-year-old Rodriguez without bond and ordered her to be housed at the Cook County Jail’s Cermak Hospital while she awaits trial.

Rodriguez “is not only a danger to society but a danger to herself,” the judge said as Rodriguez looked on wearing a paper gown.

Two of Rodriguez’s relatives who attended Wednesday’s court hearing refused comment.

Villasenor told reporters Rodriguez’s distraught family described her as a “sweet and wonderful” person and that nothing indicated that Rose was in danger while in her maternal grandmother’s care.

Ignatius Villasenor / Photo by Rummana Hussain

Rodriguez watched Rose everyday while her other family members went to work, Assistant State’s Attorney Barry Quinn said.

Rodriguez lived with her common-law husband on the first floor of the building and her two daughters and two grandchildren lived on the second floor in the 2800 block of South Avers Avenue, Quinn said.

The morning Rose died, Rodriguez had been watching the child on the second floor since 7:45 a.m. while her common law husband went to drive Rosie’s 24-year-old mother to work, authorities said.

He returned to the couple’s first-floor unit at 9 a.m. and was later alerted by Rodriguez’s sister about the phone call, in which Rodriguez had admitted to killing Rose, Quinn said.

When the two went upstairs and looked through the window of the second-floor apartment, they saw Rodriguez and Rose lying in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor, Quinn said.

Rodriguez again admitted her role in Rose’s death when her sister and common-law husband came inside.

Rose was pronounced dead on the scene.

Emergency workers found the saw entangled in Rodriguez’s clothes and also observed an 18-inch pipe wrench nearby, Quinn said.

A Tuesday autopsy determined she died of blunt force injuries to the head, with suffocation from a sock being placed in her mouth a contributing factor, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Quinn added that Rose died from two strikes she received on both sides of her head.

The baby also suffered a large hemorrhage inside her skull and most likely suffocated after the sock was shoved down her mouth, Quinn said.

By the time Rodriguez started piercing Rose’s tiny body with the saw, she was already dead, authorities said.

She will be back in court March 30.

Troy Phelon was fatally shot in the Uptown neighborhood Monday afternoon.

Phelon, 20, was shot in the chest in the 900 block of West Agatite Avenue about 2:55 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Phelon, of the 300 block of South Kedzie Avenue, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office, which ruled the death a homicide.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Brandon Haarman / Photo from Chicago Police

BY LEEANN SHELTON
Sun-Times Media

Brandon Haarman was sentenced to probation Tuesday after being convicted on a lesser charge for fatally stabbing his father during a 2013 argument in their Portage Park apartment.

Haarman, 29, was initially charged with first-degree murder for the Aug. 27, 2013, death of his father, 53-year-old Jim Haarman, authorities said.

Brandon Haarman stabbed his father 13 times in the chest, shoulder area and face during an argument at their apartment in the 3900 block of North Long Avenue, authorities said.

Defense attorney Theodore Adams had said that Brandon Haarman stabbed his father in self-defense after the older man lunged at him while they were arguing over rent money.

The father had been physically and emotionally abusive, and wanted to keep Brandon Haarman as a roommate so he could collect his disability checks, Adams said.

Adams noted Brandon Haarman has a learning disability, the mental capacity of a 12-year-old and was “distraught” after learning his father died.

In January, Brandon Haarman was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder during a bench trial before Judge James Obbish, according to court records.

On Tuesday, he was sentenced to four years’ probation and must submit to mental health evaluations, Cook County state’s attorney’s office spokesman Stephen Campbell said.