Devante Warnsby was shot to death in the South Chicago neighborhood Wednesday morning.

Warnsby, 21, was walking in the 8400 block of South Essex Avenue when a gray care pulled up and a gunman inside opened fire at 11:17 a.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Warnsby, of the 8400 block of South Oglesby Avenue, was shot in the head and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 9 p.m., authorities said.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Erick Gill / Photo from Chicago Police

BY SUN-TIMES STAFF

Two brothers have been charged with murder after prosecutors claim they chased a rival gang member out of a Belmont Cragin Dunkin' Donuts and shot him to death.

Prosecutors said Stephon Gill got angry when rivals jumped a fellow Latin Styler gang member while the pal was with his child.

So Stephon and Erick Gill went into the Belmont Cragin Dunkin’ Donuts a few weeks later and killed one of the culprits, Assistant State's Attorney Sarah Karr said.

On March 25, a witness saw Erick Gill hand his brother a handgun before the brothers and their friend entered the Dunkin' Donuts at 5201 W. Fullerton Ave, Karr said.

Once inside, the Gills and their friend chased Edgar Muneton and two other Latin Kings through the Dunkin’ Donuts, behind the counter and into the employee area, Karr said.

Erick Gill and his friend punched and hit a 21-year-old man with a broom after cornering him near the drive-thru area, Karr said.

Meanwhile, Stephon Gill chased Muneton and an 18-year-old man through the emergency exit of the Dunkin’ Donuts at 5201 W. Fullerton Ave., Karr said.

Stephon Gill 21, caught up with the men and pistol-whipped them, causing cuts to their heads. Then Stephon Gill opened fire, striking Muneton in the abdomen, wrist and head, Karr said.

Muneton, 21, of the 2700 block of North Neva Avenue, was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Erick Gill held the back door open while his brother shot Muneton, according to prosecutors, who said Erick Gill patted his brother on the back after the shooting.

Stephon Gills / Photo from Chicago Police

Investigators found .40-caliber shell casings in the alley behind the Dunkin’ Donuts and surveillance footage showed the Gills and their friends beating the victims, Karr said.

Stephon Gill was arrested March 31 at his home in the 4800 block of West Wabansia Avenue, according to a police report. Gill, who is on probation for two drug convictions, was identified by multiple witnesses and Judge Laura Sullivan ordered him held without bond on April 2.

Erick Gill, 23, also of the 4800 block of West Wabansia Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder on Wednesday, police said.

Erick Gill, a Downers Grove South High School graduate, has three children, 1, 4 and 10, and another on the way, according to a public defender.

Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil ordered Erick Gill held on $2 million bond during a Thursday court hearing.

The Gills friend has not yet been charged.

Mikal Johnson / Photo from Twitter

Mikal Malik Johnson was shot to death in the Logan Square neighborhood early Wednesday.

Johnson, 24, was walking in the 2700 block of West Bloomingdale Avenue when a vehicle pulled up and somebody inside got out and shot him in the chest about 3 a.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

The shooter got back into the vehicle, which fled north through an alley, police said.

Johnson, of the 1200 block of West Belden Avenue, later died Mount Sinai Hospital, authorities said.

Johnson was a 2008 graduate of Rolling Meadows High School, where he finished third in state in wrestling and is one of the school's all-time leaders in pins. He was also a running back on the football team.

As word of Johnson's death spread, friends took to social media to express their condolences:

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Are North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Larry Hardin Jr. was fatally shot March 9 in the Washington Heights neighborhood. Reader "STILL...SMH" posted this about him:

Larry, you were just waiting for you first child to be born. He was born the same week you died. Larry the III.
I miss you so much. I am confident I will see you again in the resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous.

Robert Hill / Photo from Chicago Police

Robert Hill has been charged with murder after Sandra Fellows was found suffocated in her Montclare home Wednesday afternoon.

Police responding to a call found 56-year-old Sandra Fellows dead in her home in the 6600 block of West Belden Avenue about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

An autopsy determined Fellows died of asphyxiation and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Robert Hill, 33, of the 1400 block of South Hamlin Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder on Thursday, police said.

He is scheduled to appear in court Friday for a bond hearing.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Joseph Hill / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Joseph Hill was ordered held without bond Friday after prosecutors said he fatally shot Devante Warnsby Wednesday morning in the South Chicago neighborhood.

Warnsby, his two adopted brothers and a friend were walking near East 84th Street and South Essex Avenue when a gray Mitsubishi with tinted windows pulled up about 11 a.m. Wednesday, Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Cooper said.

Hill got out of the car and asked the group if anybody had marijuana, Cooper said. When the group replied that they did not, Hill pulled a gun from his waistband and opened fire, she said.

The group attempted to flee into an alley, but Warnsby was shot in the back of the head, Cooper said.

Warnsby, 21, of the 8400 block of South Oglesby Avenue, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn later that night, authorities said.

The other three men were not injured and gave police a description of the vehicle, which sped off after the shooting, Cooper said.

Detectives reviewed recent traffic stops and found a car matching the description, including one from after the shooting, Cooper said.

The witnesses identified the car and shooter in a photo array, and Hill was arrested Thursday, Cooper said.

Hill, 19, was charged with first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.

Hill is currently on bond awaiting trail for an unrelated aggravated unlawful use of a weapon charge, Cooper said. Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil ordered him held without bond on that charge.

Hill is a student at Bowen High School, where he is scheduled to graduate this spring, according to his lawyer. Hill currently works at a Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits and hopes to attend college.

Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil called Hill "a danger to himself and society" and ordered him held without bond.

He will be back in court April 30.

Robert Hill / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Chicago Police officers looking to tell a 56-year-old Montclare woman that her stolen car had been located instead found her 33-year-old boyfriend trying to dispose of her body in a garbage can after he suffocated her the night before, prosecutors said.

Assistant State’s Attorney Akash Vyas said Robert Hill put his hand over Sandra Fellows’ nose and mouth to prevent her from breathing Tuesday night.

Hill then poured water on Fellows face, forcefully took out her dentures to stop her from biting and smothered her to death at her home in the 6600 block of West Beldin Avenue, Vyas said.

After killing his girlfriend, Hill stole her car and drove to his mother’s house, where he left the car parked on the street with the engine running and the radio on, prosecutors said.

The next day, Hill went back to Fellows' apartment building with a large garbage can he was going to use to dispose of her body, Vyas said.

But when Hill got into the elevator he encountered police officers who came to tell Fellows that her car, which had previously been reported stolen, had been found, Vyas said.

When Hill and the officers arrived at Fellows' apartment, the officers told him they would like to inform her that they found her stolen vehicle, Vyas said.

Hill told the officers that Fellows died the night before and he was there to dispose of her body, prosecutors said.

He took the officers to her body, which was lying face up with blood on her face from her dentures being pulled out, Vyas said.

The officers arrested Hill, who admitted that he was upset Fellows received money from a life insurance policy and had not told him so he suffocated her, Vyas said.

An autopsy confirmed Fellows died of asphyxiation and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Hill, of the 1400 block of South Hamlin Avenue was charged with first-degree murder and Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil ordered him held on $3 million bond Friday.

Hill has previously been sentenced to 180 months in prison for a federal cocaine conspiracy charge, prosecutors said.

He was sentenced to four years in prison in 2004 for manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance. He received probation for the same charge in both 1999 and 2003, according to court records.

Hill earned his G.E.D. and works for a temp agency, according to his lawyer, who noted that none of his previous convictions were for violent offenses.

Hill will be back in court April 29.

Mikal Johnson / Photo from Facebook

BY MATT McCALL
Homicide Watch Chicago

Mikal Johnson was excited to learn that he made the cut for a local semi-pro football team.

Two days later, the former star running back at Rolling Meadows High School was shot to death in Logan Square neighborhood, authorities said.

Relatives said Mikal Johnson was also a member of the Rolling Meadows wrestling team, where he finished third in the state tournament in 2008.

But the devoted Bears' fan's true passion was football, family said.

Mikal Johnson's younger brother, 17-year-old Yahya Johnson, followed in his brother’s footsteps and plays running back at Rich South High School. He even wears his brother’s number 34, family said.

“He’s one of my biggest inspirations,” Yahya Johnson said. “When I tell people who I’m trying to top, it’s my brother and Walter Payton.”

After high school, Mikal Johnson studied music at Columbia College, where he met Gerrik Birt in 2008. He eventually wanted to become a history teacher, his family said.

Johnson never became a teacher, but Birt said he felt Johnson was always teaching.

“[He wanted to] make sure that the next generation was better off than we were,” Birt said.

Birt recalled a moment on the porch of a bar, beers in hand, where the two talked about recent hard times. Johnson told Birt how valuable their friendship was.

Mikal Johnson / Photo from Facebook

“I said, ‘I don’t have anything worth admiring right now,’” Birt said. “He said, ‘Naw man, you’ve got talent and spirit in your voice.'

"He kept telling me how much he admired me, and I appreciate it so much. I’ll never forget that day. He’s a special person, he never had anything but love for other people.”

While Mikal Johnson was known as "The Beast" on the field, his father, Luther Johnson, said he was a “big teddy bear” off the gridiron.

Mikal Johnson earned the nickname “gentle giant” for his reputation as a humble and kind person who was always breaking up fights and stopping bullies, family said.

On the night of the attack, police said a vehicle pulled up and somebody shot him in the chest. The shooter then climbed back into his vehicle, which fled north through an alley.

His mother, Aisha Bilal, said her son was in a vehicle with a friend when two men in another vehicle pulled up, got out and yelled that they had been cut off. Johnson and his friend left their car and was shot five times with 9mm handgun, she said.

Johnson, of the 1200 Block of West Belden Avenue, later died at Mt. Sinai Hospital.

“If there was something that could have been resolved, he would have avoided trouble at all costs,” according to Luther Johnson, who said his son was not in a gang.

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

David E. Finney was fatally shot during a domestic fight at his Morgan Park home late Friday, authorities said.

Finney, 39, got into an argument with a male who pulled out a handgun and shot him in the chest at his home in the 11300 block of South Green Street about 10:35 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Finney later died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Police called the shooting “domestic-related” and Area South detectives are questioning a "person of interest," police said.

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Four men were fatally shot and a 56-year-old woman was suffocated last week in Chicago.

Two of the fatal shootings happened over the weekend, when at least 26 other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened when a 22-year-old man sitting a vehicle parked in the 400 block of East 72nd Street in the Park Manor community was shot multiple times about 8:40 p.m. Saturday, police said. The Cook County medical examiner’s office has not yet released his name.

On Friday, 39-year-old David E. Finney was fatally shot during a domestic argument at his home in the 11300 block of South Green Street in the Morgan Park neighborhood about 10:35 p.m., authorities said.

On Wednesday, prosecutors claim passing motorist Joseph Hill stopped near near East 84th Street and South Essex Avenue in South Chicago to ask a group walking down the street if they had marijuana. Hill then opened fire, striking Devante Warnsby in the back of the head about 11 a.m., prosecutors said.

Warnsby, 21, of the 8400 block of South Oglesby Avenue, died that night at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the medical examiner's office.

In Logan Square, somebody in a vehicle shot 24-year-old Mikal Malik Johnson in the 2700 block of West Bloomingdale Avenue about 3 a.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Johnson, of the 1200 block of West Belden Avenue, died Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the medical examiner's office.

Johnson was a 2008 graduate of Rolling Meadows High School, where he was a star running back for the football team and finished third in the state wrestling tournament, family said.

On Tuesday, prosecutors claim 33-year-old Robert Hill suffocated his girlfriend, 56-year-old Sandra Fellows, inside her home in the 6600 block of West Beldin Avenue.

Police arrested Hill the next day when he returned to the crime scene with a garbage can to dispose of the body, prosecutors said.

In 2015,, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 98 Chicago deaths a homicide.

James Finney / Photo from Chicago Police

BY REEMA AMIN
Sun-Times Media

A Morgan Park man shot his brother to death during an argument over money at their Far South Side home late Friday, prosecutors said.

David Finney, 39, returned to his home in the 11300 block of South Green Street about 10 p.m. Friday with his girlfriend and friend, said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Barry Quinn.

Once inside, David Finney and his brother, 42-year-old James Finney, got into an argument over money and bills, Quinn said.

David Finney's girlfriend went to his bedroom when the brothers began to fight, then heard a single gunshot and James Finney say, "I just popped your ass," prosecutors said.

The friend, who had been waiting outside for a pizza, walked into the home and saw James Finney standing over his brother, Quinn said.

David Finney had been shot in the chest and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

After the shooting, James Finney left the home but police found him about 15 minutes later, according to Quinn, who said James Finney later told police he killed his brother.

James Finney, 42, was charged with first-degree murder and Judge Donald Panarese ordered him held on $1 bond during a Monday court hearing.

He was charged in 2013 with beating his brother, but David Finney did not show up to court and the case didn’t proceed further, Quinn said. He was also sentenced to 30 days in jail for a 2014 misdemeanor battery conviction.

James Finney, who shook his head as prosecutors detailed the killing, is a graduate of Morgan Park High School who currently works at a warehouse, according to a public defender.

He will be back in court May 1.

Christopher Johnson was shot and killed in the Park Manor neighborhood Saturday night.

Johnson, 22, was inside a vehicle parked in the 400 block of East 72nd Street when two people walked up and one of them shot him multiple times about 8:40 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Johnson, of the 2600 block of West 89th Street in Evergreen Park, died less than an hour later at Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Shikita Woods / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

Shikita Woods was angry at her husband for moving out of their house after just three days of marriage and possibly fathering another woman’s child.

So when he jumped into his cousin’s car to escape her drunken rants Sunday morning, Woods followed behind in her red Pontiac and intentionally slammed into them on the South Side, authorities said.

Woods’ husband and cousin survived the crash in the 5500 block of South State Street.

But Brent Nelson, 53, who was standing on a sidewalk delivering newspapers at a nearby store, was killed when he was struck by a food truck Woods also hit, Cook County prosecutors said.

Another store employee who was on the sidewalk suffered a leg injury due to Woods’ actions, Assistant State’s Attorney Enrique Abraham said.

Woods, who had been drinking vodka for several hours, initially chased her husband and her cousin with her drinking buddy at her side around 3 a.m., prosecutors said.

She then stopped at a gas station where her husband and her cousin had stopped and continued to get into a physical altercation with her spouse, Abraham said.

When the husband and cousin got back in their car and drove away, Woods hopped back into her Pontiac alone and followed them at a high rate of speed as both cars headed east on Garfield Boulevard, Abraham said.

Woods, of Gary, Ind., eventually caught up to the other car and rammed into it four times, Abraham said.

The car Woods’ husband was traveling in was hit with such force it went onto the sidewalk and careened into a light pole and the parked food truck, Abraham said.

Nelson was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died.

Woods, 33, was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.

Woods’ blood-alcohol content was 0.17 percent, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08, Abraham said.

Woods was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated DUI and reckless homicide.

She also faces misdemeanor charges of DUI and driving on a revoked license, in addition to numerous traffic citations.

Judge Donald Panarese Jr. on Tuesday ordered Woods held in lieu of $250,000 bond.

Devante Warnsby / Photo from Twitter

BY MATT McCALL
Homicide Watch Chicago

The deacons at Christian Youth Missionary Baptist Church always liked when it was Devante Warnsby’s turn to read scripture, family said.

His mother, Ora Warnsby, said that of her 11 children, Devante Warnsby was the only one who never made trouble.

“He was the only one of the kids that got up and did something when I asked him,” she said. “He was a good child.”

Prosecutors claim Devante Warnsby was walking with a group in the 8400 block of South Essex Avenue when Joseph Hill pulled up and asked if anybody had marijuana about 11 a.m. April 8. When the group said they did not, Hill got out of the car and opened fire, prosecutors said.

Warnsby, 21, of the 8400 block of South Oglesby Avenue, was shot in the back of the head and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn later that night, authorities said.

Ora Warnsby said her son had attended Perspectives Charter -- Calumet, where he was on the football and track teams.

While at the high school, Devante Warnsby developed an interest in computers, his mother said. He learned to repair broken computers in a school workshop and had pursued a degree in computer science at University of Illinois before returning to Chicago two years later.

He was currently working at the deli counter at Mrs. Green’s Natural Market, family said.

“He was a smart boy, he never made any problems,” she said.

Prosecutors claim James Finney fatally shot his brother, 39-year-old David Finney, during an April 10 dispute over money in their Morgan Park home. Reader "Ashley" posted this about David Finney:

These are my brothers I'm heartbroken n I'm going to miss my big brother always I love u at least u in heaven with mother n father now

Jennifer Ponton was fatally shot in the Uptown neighborhood early Wednesday.

Ponton, 24, was a passenger in a vehicle traveling in the 4500 block of North Broadway when gunfire erupted about 1:50 a.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Ponton, of the 1200 block of Madison Court in downstate Bradley, was shot multiple times, authorities said.

The driver took her to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where she was declared dead at 3:16 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire, Network Video Productions

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

A Thursday autopsy confirmed that a woman fatally shot early Wednesday in the Uptown neighborhood was the 100th homicide of 2015.

Last year, the Cook County medical examiner's office did not report its 100th homicide until April 27.

Chicago Police, which follows federal guidelines that can exclude police-involved killings and slayings detectives rule accidental or self-defense, had already reported a 30 percent increase in killings in the first three months of this year compared to the same time last year.

The 24-year-old woman fatally shot Wednesday in the 4500 block of North Broadway is the 15th homicide so far in April, according to medical examiner's office data, which reported 13 homicides through April 15, 2014.

The Austin community has had the most homicides this year with seven, according to medical examiner's office data. West Englewood has had six killings and Roseland five.

Derrick Williams / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MATT McCALL
Homicide Watch Chicago

Derrick Williams was ordered held on a $1 million bond Friday after prosecutors said he fatally shot Fabian Echevarria during an argument over drugs last month in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.

On March 19, Echevarria was sitting in a parked car in front of his home on the 900 Block of North Mozart Street when Williams got into the vehicle and demanded a refund for marijuana Echevarria had sold him, prosecutors said.

The two continued to argue, and Williams pulled out a gun and fatally shot Echevarria once in the head, prosecutors said.

Echevarria’s brother discovered his body at about 8 p.m. that night, prosecutors said. The 24-year-old was dead at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

That night, Williams told a friend and his girlfriend that he killed Echevarria, prosecutors said.

Fabian Echevarria / Photo from Instagram

Detectives used Williams’ cell phone records put him at the scene of the murder at the time of the shooting, prosecutors said.

Williams, 21, of the 2400 block of West 45th Street, was arrested Wednesday and was charged with first-degree murder, authorities said.

On Friday, Judge Donald Panarese ordered Williams held on a $1 million bond. He will be back in court May 6.

A 50-year-old man was stabbed to death inside a West Town restaurant early Saturday.

Hermenegil Do Viochis got into an argument with another 50-year-old man inside Taqueria El Taco Naco at 2640 W. Chicago Ave., authorities said.

The argument became physical and the other man stabbed Do Viochis in the chest about 1:05 a.m., authorities said.

Do Viochis, of the 3800 block of West Diversey Avenue, died at short time later at Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Stephon Gills / Photo from Chicago Police

BY SUN-TIMES STAFF

A third man has been charged with murder in the March shooting death of Edgar Muneton outside a Belmont Cragin Dunkin’ Donuts.

Alexander Gonzalez, 25, of the 11000 block of South Avenue B, was charged with first-degree murder and possession of a controlled substance. He is expected to appear in bond court Sunday, police said.

Two brothers were previously charged with murder for the shooting.

Prosecutors said Stephon Gill got angry when rivals jumped a fellow Latin Styler gang member while the pal was with his child.

So Stephon and Erick Gill went into the Belmont Cragin Dunkin’ Donuts a few weeks later and killed one of the culprits, Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Karr said.

On March 25, a witness saw Erick Gill hand his brother a handgun before the brothers and their friend entered the Dunkin’ Donuts at 5201 W. Fullerton Ave, Karr said.

Once inside, the Gills and their friend chased Edgar Muneton and two other Latin Kings through the Dunkin’ Donuts, behind the counter and into the employee area, Karr said.

Erick Gill and his friend punched and hit a 21-year-old man with a broom after cornering him near the drive-thru area, Karr said.

Meanwhile, Stephon Gill chased Muneton and an 18-year-old man through the emergency exit of the Dunkin’ Donuts at 5201 W. Fullerton Ave., Karr said.

Stephon Gill 21, caught up with the men and pistol-whipped them, causing cuts to their heads. Then Stephon Gill opened fire, striking Muneton in the abdomen, wrist and head, Karr said.

Muneton, 21, of the 2700 block of North Neva Avenue, was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Erick Gill held the back door open while his brother shot Muneton, according to prosecutors, who said Erick Gill patted his brother on the back after the shooting.

Erick Gill / Photo from Chicago Police

Investigators found .40-caliber shell casings in the alley behind the Dunkin’ Donuts and surveillance footage showed the Gills and their friends beating the victims, Karr said.

Stephon Gill was arrested March 31 at his home in the 4800 block of West Wabansia Avenue, according to a police report. Stephon Gill, who is on probation for two drug convictions, was identified by multiple witnesses and Judge Laura Sullivan ordered him held without bond on April 2.

Erick Gill, 23, also of the 4800 block of West Wabansia Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder on Wednesday, police said.

Erick Gill, a Downers Grove South High School graduate, has three children, 1, 4 and 10, and another on the way, according to a public defender.

Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil ordered Erick Gill held on $2 million bond during an April 9 court hearing.