Courtney Ealy / Photo from Chicago Police
BY WILL HAGER
Homicide Watch Chicago
Courtney Ealy allegedly left his cell phone outside of a livery car after he and fellow South Side rapper Clint Massey fatally shot the driver last month near U.S. Cellular Field, authorities said.
Ealy, who raps under the moniker Cdai, was signed to Savage Squad Records in December 2013. Massey raps under the name RondoNumbaNine and his song “Hang Wit Me” has nearly 1.5 million views on YouTube.
Assistant State’s Attorney Glen Runk said Javan Boyd was in his cab waiting for a fare in the 3700 block of South Princeton Avenue on Feb. 22 when three cars drove past.
The first vehicle did a U-turn and pulled up next to Boyd’s car, Runk said. Ealy and Massey allegedly exited the vehicle, went to the passenger side of Boyd’s vehicle and asked if he was from the area.
When Boyd responded that he was from the area Ealy and Massey opened the passenger’s side door and fired multiple shots into the car -- striking Boyd, Runk said.
Ealy and Massey then got back into their vehicle and drove off with the two other vehicles, Runk said. Ealy allegedly left his cell phone outside Boyd’s car.
Boyd, 28, of the 7400 block of South Chappel Avenue, died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hosptial of Cook County less than two hours later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
The shooting was captured on Chicago Housing Authority video and investigators also found both Ealy and Massey’s fingerprints on Boyd’s car, Runk said.
Massey, 17, of the 6600 block of South Honore Street, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder earlier this month, authorities said. He is being held on $2 million bond.
Chicago Police gang officers arrested Ealy this week in the 1800 block of Willow Road in Northfield, according to court documents. Ealy, 19, of the 300 block of East 60th Street, was charged with one count of first-degree murder.
Ealy appeared for a bond hearing Tuesday dressed in a black and white shirt and black pants. Judge Peggy Chiampas ordered him held on $1 million bond for the murder and no bond for violations on two unrelated cases.
Chiampas also issued a no-contact order restricting Ealy from interacting with any of the witnesses or going to the area where the shooting occurred.
“You are prohibited from all social media, which means no Facebook, no Instagram, no my-gram, your-gram, I don’t care whose it is,” Chiampas said.
Ealy was convicted of felony robbery in 2012 and was sentenced to two years probation, Runk said. He currently has two probation violations on that case.
Ealy is a lifelong Chicago resident who lives with his mother, a public defender said. He had been enrolled in GED classes. Ealy's sister declined to comment after the bond hearing.
In addition to being a part-time livery driver, Boyd worked as a food-packer in west suburban Woodridge, his family said last month.
Javan Boyd / Family Photo
Family members described Javan Boyd as a “clean cut,” “old-school” guy who enjoyed spending time with his 11-year-old daughter. He especially liked taking her bowling and skating.
He was born in New Orleans and came to Chicago in 1991 with his family to live in the Robert Taylor Homes in the Bronzeville community. A fire there three years later claimed the life of his mother, two sisters and brother, according to relatives. Boyd survived and was adopted by an aunt.
Boyd had pleaded guilty in 2008 to an aggravated vehicular hijacking charge in Calumet City, but his family said he had turned his life around.