Surveillance image / Photo from Chicago Police
Police have released video surveillance of two men they are looking to question in connection with two shooting deaths blocks apart last December.
The murders happened about 30 minutes apart and three blocks apart in the early morning hours of Dec. 19, 2013, police said.
Both Eric "Guitar" Davis and Willie Cooper were sitting in parked vehicles when they were shot during attempted armed robberies, police said.
“Willie Cooper was a deacon of his church and a great person who would help anyone,” George McDade, chairman of the Cook County Crime Stoppers, said in a statement. “Eric Davis is from a family of jazz musicians and had a promising career.
“Both men were pillars in their community and involved in careers and helping others. Now they both share a violent death from gun violence as victims of possible robbery,” McDade said.
Cooper, 74, was waiting to give a friend a ride to work when two suspects shot him at 4:44 a.m. in the 7000 block of South East End Avenue, authorities said.
Davis, 41, was sitting in his vehicle in the 6700 block of South East End Avenue about 5:20 a.m. when two people shot him, police said.
Both Davis, of the 14200 block of South Eggleston Avenue in Riverdale; and Cooper, of the 6800 block of South Crandon Avenue, were dead at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
Police said previously they believe the same offenders may be involved in both shootings.
Crime Stoppers will be distributing flyers Saturday in the area of the murders at 70th Street and South East End Avenue, McDade said.
Surveillance image / Photo from Chicago Police
“Crime Stoppers joins the victims’ families and Chicago Police this Saturday looking for information from the community that will lead to the identification and arrest of the offenders” he said in the statement.
Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in either case.
Anyone with information should call (800) 535-7867; callers can remain anonymous.
-- Sun-Times Media Wire