David Twine / Photo from Chicago Police

BY LEEANN SHELTON
Sun-Times Media

David Twine was sentenced to 12 years in prison Thursday after he pleaded guilty to fatally shooting his friend in Beverly in 2013.

Twine, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder before Judge Matthew E. Coghlan, who handed down the 12-year sentence, according to court records.

Twine had been accused of shooting 34-year-old Kyle Arrington on May 15, 2013, during a dispute in the 9900 block of South Walden Parkway, authorities said. Arrington died more than a month later.

Arrington’s father, Thomas, said that his son and Twine had been friends since they attended Morgan Park High School together. Thomas Arrington said his wife taught Twine at the school, and that he was a frequent guest at the Arrington home.

Thomas Arrington said his son was inside the vestibule of his fiance’s apartment building when he was shot through a glass door. He was shot another six times in the back as he tried to run away from the gunman.

Twine, of the 4500 block of West Columbine in Matteson, was given credit for nearly two years spent behind bars since his arrest, according to court records.

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago

Logan Square has long been known for its public art projects and, more recently, for its trendy restaurants and bustling bars.

Lately, it’s also become one of the city’s hot spots for murder.

There have been five killings so far this year in the Northwest Side neighborhood. That puts Logan Square in a four-way tie with North Lawndale, Roseland and South Shore for the third-most murders this year among Chicago’s 77 official community areas.

The only areas with more murders this year: Austin, with seven, and West Englewood, with six.

Over the past decade, it’s taken a full year, on average, for Logan Square to see as many killings as it already has this year in less than four months.

That’s come as a shock to many in a community with a reputation as relatively safe.

“I definitely think there has been a rise in violence,” said Arielle Maldonado, 25, a volunteer with the community group Parents for Peace and Justice who has lived in Logan Square near Kosciuszko Park for most of her life. “I just feel that, with recent cuts to programs for violence prevention and just the way the education system is currently designed, it’s only going to keep rising unless people take charge and do something for their community.”

Photo by Emily Brosious

Others were surprised to learn of the recent spate of killings.

Sergio Ortiz, 35, another longtime Logan Square resident, said the neighborhood has gotten much safer over the years.

“It was really bad,” Ortiz said, “because the area was so impoverished. Then, it started picking up.”

“I feel safe here, absolutely,” said Mike Foster, 24, who moved to the neighborhood last month from Orlando. “I was actually more afraid going out in Orlando than going out in Chicago. … But I’ve been staying on the main roads like Milwaukee. I live on Kimball because it’s a pretty lit street. And I rarely ever go down on the little residential roads.”

All five killings this year happened near the outside edge of Logan Square, away from its famed Illinois Centennial monument and roundabout at Kedzie Avenue and Logan Boulevard that many Chicagoans think of when they talk about the neighborhood. According to census data, it’s home to 74,000 people. Nearly half are Hispanic, about 85 percent have at least a high school diploma, and median income is about $53,000 — above the citywide average.

The latest killing happened April 15. Authorities have refused to say much about what happened, just that a 58-year-old woman was found dead by a friend inside a residence in the 2500 block of West Moffat Street and that she'd been strangled. The Chicago Police Department and the Cook County medical examiner's office wouldn't say any more about the case, including the woman's name.

Here’s a brief rundown of the other killings, according to the police, the Cook County medical examiner’s office and family members:

• On April 8, 24-year-old Mikal Johnson— a onetime star athlete at Rolling Meadows High School who later studied music at Columbia College Chicago— was gunned down in the 2700 block of West Bloomingdale Avenue. He was riding in a vehicle with a friend when two men drove up, got out and started yelling at them that they’d cut them off. When Johnson got out, he was shot five times.

• On March 16, Deonta Jackson, 35, and Elijah Moore, 41, were shot dead outside the Dolphin Chicago nightclub, 2200 N. Ashland Ave. The police say they were part of a group security guards had just kicked out for fighting. The club’s operators have kept the place closed since the shooting. Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) said it should have been shut down long ago, saying it’s been the target of chronic complaints from its neighbors.

• On Feb. 19, Julio Ramos, 30, was sitting in a sport-utility vehicle parked in the 2000 block of West Fullerton Avenue when a gray pickup truck pulled up, and someone inside shot him in the head.

No one has been charged in any of the deaths.

Last year, there were seven murders in Logan Square — the most since 2006.

But crime overall in Logan Square is down, according to police figures. Non-fatal shootings have been trending down — from 57 in 2006 to 28 last year. And burglaries, — deemed a bellwether crime by police Supt. Garry McCarthy — have fallen each of the past four years.

“I always tell people not to get worried, this is a big city, but to remain vigilant,” says Waguespack, who represents part of Logan Square.

On Friday, Homicide Watch Chicago reported that the Logan Square community has recorded five murders so far this year, putting it in a tie for third among Chicago's 77 official community areas.

Chicago Police released the following statement about the violence in the area:

CPD is constantly analyzing the latest crime data, trends or patterns, which allows us to adjust officer deployment, tweak strategies that could be more effective and expand efforts that are delivering promising results as we work to continue reducing crime and violence. Today the 14th police district, which covers most of Logan Square, is home to some of CPD's most forward thinking efforts, which we believe will build relationships with area residents and improve the safety of the community.

Last year CPD launched a pilot domestic violence response program to help break the cycle of domestic violence, in partnership with prosecutors and service providers. The district is also home to the body camera pilot program, which is ushering in a new level of transparency. And the district has developed a very strong, engaging community policing program that will continue to build relationships with residents as we work together to reduce crime.

Finally, while it may not be violent crime, the district assisted in an investigation of catalytic converter thefts that had been affecting Logan Square and other communities in Chicago. The investigation culminated in a raid on a recycling plant two weeks ago, and since then the number of catalytic converter thefts have dropped dramatically in the district.

Nicole M. Towns was killed when a gunman opened fire at a group leaving a Roseland party Friday night.

The group had just left a party in the 9300 block of South LaSalle Street when a gunman opened fire about 11 p.m., police said.

Towns, 19, of the 7400 block of South Michigan Avenue, was shot in the side and died at the scene, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

A 30-year-old man was also shot in the side and taken in serious condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. A 28-year-old man was shot in the shoulder and took himself to Little Company of Mary Hospital, where he was treated and released.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Javante Linson was found shot to death in the McKinley Park neighborhood early Saturday.

Linson, 18, was found shot multiple times in a gangway in the 3400 block of South Hamilton Avenue about 1 a.m., authorities said.

Linson, of the 2700 block of West Lexington Street, had been shot in the head and abdomen and died at the scene, authorities said.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

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

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Tim Triplett / Sun-Times file photo

BY MICHAEL O'BRIEN, MICHAEL LANSU AND REEMA AMIN
Chicago Sun-Times

On the spot where they found Tim Triplett, wounded and dying, a single white candle stood Monday afternoon.

Nearby, a small memorial — blue balloons, blue sign — was attached to a tree.

The former high school basketball star was shot and killed Sunday in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side.

A neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said he was inside watching a John Wayne movie (“Undefeated”) on Sunday afternoon when he heard two shots.

He then saw the victim lying on the ground.

The neighbor said he still feels safe sitting on his front porch in the afternoon — but, he added: “Any kind of noise, and I’m gone.”

Triplett, 20, a former high school basketball star, was found outside in the 3500 block of West Flournoy Street at 12:40 p.m., authorities said.

Police said he had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Triplett, of the 4400 block of West Adams Street, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:15 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Triplett was a standout basketball player at Crane and Marshall.

“He was a great leader. He came over to my building for a year and he was my team captain,” said Henry Cotton, Marshall’s head basketball coach.

“I just spoke with him on Saturday. He had signed up for summer classes at Wright College. They were starting in a couple weeks.”

Triplett’s death was just the latest tragedy to hit home at Marshall. In January 2014, assistant coach Shawn Harrington was shot while driving his daughter to school; he survived, but remains paralyzed. His daughter was unhurt.

“It’s been hard,” Cotton said of the double tragedies. “Nothing has been easy. They have the crisis team here to talk with the guys today and they are just letting them vent.”

Triplett also briefly attended Farragut.

“I’ve known him since he was a shorty coming out of elementary,” said Farragut basketball coach William Nelson. “He was one of those guys that was just so tough and spirited on the court. A vocal guy, he could really get after it. He just played so hard.”

Nelson said that Triplett’s younger brother was a victim of gun violence as well.

“His mother has lost two kids in like three years,” said Nelson. “He lived on the same block I grew up on. It’s rough. You are almost afraid to leave the house.”

Orr basketball coach Lou Adams’ son, Lou Adams Jr., was good friends with Triplett.

“My son called me, he’s just really upset,” said Adams. “(Triplett) was just a great kid.”

Tim Anderson, Triplett’s coach at Crane, described Triplett as “loyal and fun-loving.”

“[Triplett] has a boy and a girl,” said Anderson. “His daughter is about a year old. He was the kind of guy that was trying to do the right thing. A lot of times people don’t understand how close basketball and the streets are with one another.”

Ola Arogundade, a friend and AAU basketball teammate, said: “Tim was a passionate and fiery player . . . he always had your back, no matter what the score.”

“Tim was always trying to have fun. He liked going out, kicking it. . . . He always wanted to hang out with girls,” Arogundade said.

Triplett, whose favorite player was Derrick Rose, liked to dress flashy, especially wearing True Religion and Nike, Arogundade said.

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago

Ten people were shot to death throughout Chicago last week.

Four of the killings happened over the weekend, when at least 22 other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened when for high school basketball star Tim Triplett was found shot to death in the 3500 block of West Flournoy Street at 12:40 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Triplett, of the 4400 block of West Adams Street, was shot multiple times and died less than an hour later at Mount Sinai Hospital, authorities said.

Triplett was a standout basketball player at Crane and Marshall. He also briefly attended Farragut.

On Saturday, 18-year-old Javante Linson was found shot multiple times in a gangway in the 3400 block of South Hamilton Avenue about 1 a.m., authorities said.

Linson, of the 2700 block of West Lexington Street, had been shot in the head and abdomen and died at the scene, authorities said.

On Friday, 19-year-old Nicole M. Towns was shot as she left a party in the 9300 block of South LaSalle Street in Roseland when a gunman opened fire about 11 p.m., police said.

Towns, 19, of the 7400 block of South Michigan Avenue, was shot in the side and died at the scene, authorities said. Two other people were wounded, police said.

In the Marquette Park community, 26-year-old Rashad A. Abdullah was outside in the 7000 block of South Talman Avenue when two people approached from behind and shot him about 10 a.m., authorities said.

Abdullah, who lived on the block, died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn about an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

On Thursday, 16-year-old Amari Sutton was found shot in the chest and neck outside in the 1400 block of East 73rd Street in South Shore about 6 p.m., authorities said.

Sutton, who lived on the block, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Tuesday, 33-year-old Myron Mason fatally shot his ex-girlfriend, 28-year-old Mechelle Lewis, outside her home in the 7200 block of South Bennett Avenue in South Shore about 9:50 p.m., prosecutors said.

After the shooting, the man took Lewis' two children — an 8-year-old girl and 5-year-old boy — and drove to the Grand Crossing District police station, where he was taken into custody, police said.

Mason, of the 8600 block of South Kingston Avenue, is being held without bond.

In North Lawndale, 21-year-old Jaquille Reams was inside a store in the 3400 block of West Ogden Avenue when he was shot several times about 1 p.m. Tuesday, authorities said.

Reams, of the 100 block of North Lamon Avenue, died less than an hour later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office.

In Bronzeville, 26-year-old Jeremy Collins was shot multiple times while driving in the 400 block of East 47th Street about 2:20 a.m. Tuesday, authorities said.

Collins, of the 700 block of North Monticello Avenue, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Monday, 21-year-old D'Montre Smith was standing in the 10200 block of South May Street in Washington Heights when a car drove past and somebody inside shot Smith in the chest 10:30 p.m., authorities said.

Smith, who lived on the block, later died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, authorities said.

The killings started when 18-year-old Marshawn Flemon Jr. was shot in the back about in the 6000 block of South King Drive about 2:45 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Flemon, of the 6800 block of South Wabash Avenue, died at Stroger Hospital about an hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

In 2015, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 117 Chicago deaths a homicide, including one person fatally shot by police.

Former West Side basketball star Tim Triplett, 20, was fatally shot Sunday afternoon in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. A memorial was was erected in his honor where he was shot in the 3500 block of West Flournoy Street.

Scene where Tim Triplett was killed / Photo by Emily Brosious

Authorities are looking for the family of a 58-year-old woman found strangled nearly two weeks ago in the Logan Square community.

Bernadette Glomski was found dead at her home in the 2500 block of West Moffat Street at 5:45 p.m. April 15, authorities said.

An autopsy found she died of asphyxia by strangulation and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Authorities had withheld her name pending notification of family, but are now releasing her name in the hopes of locating relatives, a spokesman for the medical examiner’s office said.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Jennifer Ponton, 24, was fatally shot April 15 in the Uptown community. Reader "s" posted this about her:

that was my best friend.. she knew me better than anyone.. so inoccent..2 baby girls.. she would nt hurt a fly. Rip jenni boo.

George Evans / Photo from Chicago Police

BY LEEANN SHELTON
Sun-Times Media Wire

A motorist accused of hitting and killing a pedestrian in the Chatham neighborhood Sunday has been charged with reckless homicide.

George R. Evans, 23, was charged with one count of felony reckless homicide with a motor vehicle for a crash in the 8700 block of South Lafayette Avenue, police said.

The unidentified woman -- thought to be in her 20s -- was in a crosswalk about 10 p.m. Sunday when a Volkswagen Passat speeding southbound from the Dan Ryan Expressway struck her, police said.

She was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed the fatality, but said the woman remained unidentified as of Monday.

Evans and a 24-year-old woman riding in the car were both taken to Advocate Trinity Hospital for treatment, police said.

He was also cited for failing to reduce speed, not yielding to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and disobeying a red light, police said.

Evans is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for a bond hearing.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Ivan S. Kennedy was killed in a Riverdale community shooting that left another man wounded Tuesday afternoon.

The men were in the 13200 block of South Forrestville Avenue when a group walked up and one person opened fire about 3 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

Kennedy, 30, who lived on the block, was shot in the arm, chest and lower back, authorities said.

He took himself to Roseland Community Hospital, where he died at 3:30 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The other man, 22, suffered a graze wound to the forehead. He also took himself to Roseland Hospital for treatment, police said.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

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

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

George Evans / Photo from Chicago Police

MATT McCALL
Homicide Watch Chicago

After running over a woman Sunday night in the Chatham, the motorist was seen laughing on a cell phone as he stood over her body, prosecutors said.

George Evans, 23, was charged with one count of felony reckless homicide with a motor vehicle for the crash in the 8700 block of South Lafayette Avenue, police said.

Evans was driving in a rented Volkswagon with his cousin and his cousin’s young children as passengers, Assistant States Attorney Akash Vyas said.

When he stopped at a gas station near 79th and State streets, one of the children woke up and said she needed to use the restroom. Evans said he would get them home, and drove onto the Dan Ryan Expressway, Vyas said.

Evans sped through a stoplight at 87th Street and Lafayette Avenue and struck a woman while driving nearly 90 mph, Vyas said.

The impact catapulted the woman about 100 feet and shattered the window of the Volkswagon, prosecutors said.

After the crash, Evans was captured on a cell phone video standing over the woman’s body, laughing as he talked about being in a crash the previous week, Vyas said.

When police arrived, Evans was sitting in the driver’s seat of the Volkswagon and admitted to the crash, Vyas said. He refused alcohol and drug testing, prosecutors said.

He told police he was only driving the rental vehicle because he had been in a crash a week earlier and his car had been totaled, Vyas said.

The woman’s remains unidentified, and fingerprint analysis is being conducted to determine her identity, authorities said.

Evans and his passengers were taken to Advocate Trinity Hospital for treatment, police said.

In addition to the reckless homicide charge, he was also cited for failing to reduce speed, not yielding to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and disobeying a red light, police said.

Judge Laura Sullivan ordered him on $250,000 bond and scheduled his next court date for May 18.

Former Marshall high school basketball star Tim Triplett was shot to death April 26 in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. Reader "warrmack" posted this about him:

Wished he would've let his hoop dreams get him away from The Chi to see another way of life. RIP Tim.

Eric Washington was shot to death near his University Village home Wednesday afternoon.

Washington, 25 was shot in the abdomen and back while standing in a parking lot in the 1200 block of West Washburne Avenue about 12:05 p.m., authorities said.

Washington, who lived on the block, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County less than an hour later, 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

A Berwyn man was fatally shot in the Back of the Yards neighborhood Wednesday afternoon.

Ismael Lopez was in the 4800 block of South Winchester Avenue when a gunman in a passing red truck opened fired about 1:45 p.m., authorities said.

Lopez, 24, of the 1500 block of Elm Street in Berwyn, was struck in the abdomen and died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County at 2:51 p.m., 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

Amari Sutton, 16, was fatally shot April 23 in the South Shore community. Reader "Kendra S." posted this about him:

I want to send my most sincere and heartfelt condolences to everyone that knew and loved him. My son knew him and his death is really bothering him. He stated that he had such a great sense of humor and he's gonna miss that. There are no perfect words to say but, from one mother to another I'll be lifting you and everyone else up in prayer!!! Love, endurance, understanding and JUSTICE on behalf of Amari!!! Rest on baby!!!

Boshaun Jackson was fatally shot on Lake Shore Drive early Thursday in the Uptown neighborhood.

Jackson, 27, was driving in the 4800 block of North Lake Shore Drive when somebody shot him in the chest about 3:45 a.m., authorities said.

He took himself to Weiss Memorial Hospital, but was transferred to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, police said. He was pronounced dead at 7:34 a.m.

Jackson, of the 4400 block of North Clifton Avenue, died at the hospital at 7:34 a.m., 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

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago

Chicago Police reported one less murder and three fewer shootings last month compared to April 2014.

While April violence remained relatively unchanged, a surge in killings in January and March has led to an 18 percent increase in murders through the first four months of the year. Murders had been up nearly 30 percent through the first quarter of the year.

In 2015, police have reported 115 murders, and the Cook County medical examiner's office, which counts killings different, ruled 120 Chicago deaths a homicide, including one person fatally shot by police.

Police reported 34 murders last month, which occurred in 28 of Chicago's 77 communities. South Shore had the most April slayings with three.

Austin has the most killings this year with seven, while Roseland, South Shore and West Englewood each have had six.

Much like killings, the city saw a slight decrease in shootings and shooting victims.

The 196 shootings last month was a 2 percent decrease from April 2014, and the 230 shooting victims was a 14 percent decrease from April 2014.

So far this year, 642 people have been wounded in 556 shootings, a 23 percent increase in shootings from last year. Shootings had been up 42 percent through the first quarter of the year.

Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy has been vocal about getting illegal guns off the street. This year, officers have recovered more than 1,500 illegal guns, a 22 percent increase from 2014.

"Through our plan, based on community policing and partnerships with residents, we have made significant progress in reducing crime over the past few years, yet we remain challenged by lax laws that make it far too easy for dangerous criminals to access and use illegal guns," McCarthy said in a statement.

Police reported a five percent reduction in overall crimes compared to the first four months of 2014 and a 26 percent decrease from 2013.

"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.

Kelvin L. Davis was fatally shot in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood Friday evening.

Davis, 24, was standing on a sidewalk in the 1300 block of East 75th Street when a gunman in a passing gray vehicle opened fire about 5:20 p.m., authorities said.

Davis, of the 7500 block of South Dorchester Avenue, was shot in the chest and neck and taken died at Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center less than an hour later, authorities said.

Nobody has been charged for the killing.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire