Matthew Jackson / Photo from Chicago Police
BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor
Matthew X. Jackson fatally shot Davy Easterling, a bodyguard for Chicago rapper Twista, during an armed robbery at a South Chicago apartment, prosecutors said.
On Friday, Judge Laura Sullivan ordered Jackson held without bond on murder and armed robbery charges.
On Feb. 20, Easterling was drinking in an apartment with the female tenant and Jackson's girlfriend, said Assistant State's Attorney Beth Novy. The two women eventually got into an argument and Jackson's girlfriend left.
When she returned home she told Jackson about the fight and how she saw Easterling with "foreign money," Novy said. The couple then went back to the woman's apartment, where Jackson allegedly held Easterling at gunpoint and demanded his foreign money.
Jackson shot Easterling in the mouth and chest, then went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife he used to cut Easterling's throat, Novy said. Jackson allegedly took Easterling's belongings and left with the two women.
Jackson stole Easterling's car and three met at Jackson's apartment, where he told his girlfriend and the other woman to find flammable liquids, Novy said. Easterling's car was found burned inside and out "a few blocks" from Jackson's apartment.
Before friends and family knew what had happened to Easterling, Twista took to social media to try and the man he called “a close friend” and bodyguard.
“We are all worried and pray for his safe return,” Twista posted.
Easterling's body was discovered about 6 a.m. the next day when firefighters responded to a blaze in the other woman's apartment in the 8300 block of South Baker Avenue, authorities said.
The fire started in the rear bedroom of the first floor apartment, and firefighters contained the blaze to that unit, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.
Photo from Chicago Fire Department
Easterling, 31, of the 8100 block of South Vernon Avenue, was found dead in the bedroom, authorities said. An autopsy determined he died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
After the murder, Twista posted to social network sites Instagram and Twitter to honor his friend:
#RIP Davy Easterling aka 6'9 I have lost too many good friends to these streets. http://t.co/pX7XOtOvYD
— #BTTB on itunes NOW! (@TWISTAgmg) February 22, 2014
Jackson, 25, of the 8000 block of South Champlain Avenue, is also awaiting trial in Bridgeview for residential burglary and attempted aggravated robbery, according to court documents.
Assistant Public Defender Andrea Webber said Jackson is a graduate of De La Salle High School and attended some college in downstate Carbondale and later at Kennedy King College.
He will be back in court June 24.
Davy Easterling / Photo from Twitter