By DANIEL BROWN
Chicago Sun-Times
Police investigate a homicide early Sunday in Marquette Park. | Daniel Brown/Sun-Times
Darius Brownlee was shot to death Sunday morning at a party in the Marquette Park neighborhood because, his girlfriend said, he didn't have any marijuana to sell.
The 25-year-old got into an argument with another male at 2:49 a.m. at a house party in the 7000 block of South Artesian, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Shots rang out, and Brownlee was found with a gunshot wound to the head on the front lawn of the residence.
Brownlee, who lived in the 7900 block of South Throop, was pronounced dead at the scene at 3 a.m., authorities said. An autopsy found he died of multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was ruled a homicide.
The crime scene on South Artesian was taped off between West 70th and West 71st. The victim’s body could be seen near the front steps of one of the residences on the west side of Artesian.
Neighbors stood quietly on their porches. Between nine and ten distressed friends and family members stood on the sidewalk and in the street.
One neighbor, Gene, said he was inside when he heard shots and then screams. “I came out, and the police were trying to help him up … but he was gone.”
“Last night they were shooting [too],” he added. “The block was full of police.”
The victim’s girlfriend, Jasmine Jones, could be seen crying next to her mother in the street.
She said the shooter walked up to Brownlee and asked him for a bag of marijuana. After Brownlee said he didn’t have anything, “the dude shot him in the arm and then shot him in the head … right in front of me.”
Jones suffered a graze wound to the foot in the shooting, but refused medical attention.
Brownlee’s sister, Iesha Brownlee, walked up the crime scene tape. “That’s my brother,” she cried. “I’m not ever going to get another one like him. I can’t believe this.
“This can’t be real, this can’t be real,” she wailed. “I love you, Darius.”
Brownlee’s son’s mother, Precious Crittenden, appeared in the street sobbing softly. “Where’s he at?” she asked.
When Jones told her, she burst into tears. She then walked over to the yellow tape and looked on for about 10 minutes, continuing to sob.
Jones said Brownlee had been having dreams about getting shot in the head. “He kept saying ‘something’s gonna happen’and now, he’s lying there.”
“I’m just praying he wakes up and says ‘Baby, I’m good',” she said. “He did more for my two kids than their own daddy.”
Iesha Brownlee said her brother took his kids to school everyday and was family-oriented. “He’s a good kid, never disrespectful.”
Crittenden said Brownlee loved God and had a genuine heart.
“He loved my son, and my son loved his daddy,” she said, still sobbing. “I don’t know how I’m going to tell him.”