(WTTW News)
A Chicago man who was arrested Tuesday afternoon following a standoff with a Chicago police SWAT team at a South Side home allegedly admitted that he shot his girlfriend 10 times as she sat in her bed eating McDonald’s.
Joseph West, 30, was ordered held without bail during a court hearing Thursday, after he was charged with a single count of first-degree murder in the shooting death of 40-year-old Senita Harper.
Cook County prosecutors said West and Harper had been living together in the 200 block of W. 92nd St. Harper’s mother went to her daughter’s home Tuesday after not hearing from Harper all day Monday and learning that she had not shown up for work.
When she arrived at the home, West answered the door and told the mother Harper “wasn’t doing well,” according to Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Deboni. Harper’s mother then found her daughter inside the home covered in blood and cold to the touch.
She fled the home and called police. But when officers arrived, West allegedly refused to surrender and a SWAT team was called, Deboni said.
As this was happening, West’s father called West to try and get him to surrender peacefully. During that call, West allegedly admitted that he had shot Harper, but offered no explanation for the shooting.
West followed his father’s instructions, telling authorities he was ready to surrender after unloading a firearm he had in his possession. As officers entered the home to arrest West, they found Harper dead of multiple gunshot wounds to her head, chest, back, arms and legs, according to Deboni.
Gunshot residue was found on both of West’s hands, Deboni said, and shell casings found in the home were matched to the firearm West had in his possession.
West initially invoked his right to remain silent, Deboni said, but he later agreed to speak with investigators, admitting that he had shot Harper 10 times while she sat eating food in her bed.
It’s unclear what precipitated the shooting, as Deboni noted the homicide was currently “unexplained.”
In denying bail Thursday, Judge Mary Catherine Marubio noted the “significant” physical evidence collected in this case, as well as West’s own admission.
West is due back in court April 12.
Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | (773) 509-5431 | [email protected]
