Stories by Matt Masterson

Children, Police Officers Wounded During Violent Weekend in Chicago

Forty-eight people were shot across Chicago over the weekend, including a 2-year-old girl, a 13-year-old boy and two police officers, as the city continues to outpace last year’s shooting and homicide totals so far in 2021.

Suspect in Shooting of 2 Chicago Officers Held on $10M Bail

Bruce Lua, 45, was ordered held on $10 million bond Tuesday during a hearing following his arrest on charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery of a peace officer and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.

CPD Unveils Revised Search Warrant Policies Following Botched Raids

The Chicago Police Department has announced changes to its search warrant policy that will go into effect later this month following widespread calls for reform after a botched raid at the home of Anjanette Young in February 2019.

FBI Offering $10,000 Reward for Information on Missing Suspect in Jaslyn Adams Killing

The FBI is offering the reward for information leading to the arrest of Devontay Anderson, who authorities believe has fled the state of Illinois following his alleged involvement in the shooting death of 7-year-old Jaslyn Adams last month.

CPS Expects to Have New CEO Selected by Late July

Officials say search process will be the most inclusive in recent history

Chicago Public Schools officials say the district will host dozens of focus groups in the coming months to gather community feedback before making any decision about its next CEO. Current CEO Janice Jackson will be leaving the district when her contract expires at the end of June.

Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Sites Coming to CPS Schools Over Next 3 Weekends

Converted CTA buses will visit 15 Chicago Public Schools to provide COVID-19 vaccines to students over the next three Saturdays, city health officials announced Thursday.

Alleged Gunman in Killing of 7-Year-Old Jaslyn Adams Charged With Fleeing Illinois

Devontay Anderson has been charged in federal court with fleeing Illinois to avoid prosecution for the killing of 7-year-old Jaslyn Adams outside a West Side McDonald's last month, according to an FBI affidavit.

Former Charity Director Pleads Guilty to Misappropriating $800K on Trips, Bulls Tickets

Stuart Nitzkin, the former head of a suburban nonprofit supporting physically and psychologically challenged children, pleaded guilty to stealing money from the organization and using it to pay for golf, family vacations and tickets to sporting events.

IDPH Pledges $225 Million to Expand COVID-19 Testing in Middle, High Schools

As schools across Illinois welcome back more students for in-person learning, state officials have announced a new investment to increase access to COVID-19 testing “at low or no cost.”

3 US Army Soldiers Allegedly Bought, Supplied Guns Used in Chicago Shootings

A trio of U.S. Army soldiers in Tennessee have been charged with funneling illegal firearms to Chicago that were found after a mass shooting earlier this year that left one person dead and several others wounded on the city’s Southwest Side.

Grandfather Charged in Stabbing Death of Man in Englewood Home

Anthony Moody, 55, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder stemming from the Sunday death of Robert Webster, and was ordered held on $200,000 bail during a hearing Tuesday afternoon.

Judge to Decide if Smollett Attorney Can Stay on Case After Summer Hearing

A Cook County judge has scheduled a hearing this summer to determine if an attorney that actor Jussie Smollett has hired will be allowed to represent him following allegations of a possible conflict of interest involving that attorney and the two brothers Smollett allegedly hired to carry out a hoax attack.

CPS Pledging $7.5 Million to Expand High-Quality Educational Programming

The district said the investment will support staffing, training and learning resources for International Baccalaureate, STEM/STEAM, fine and performing arts, and dual language programs at seven elementary schools over the next six years.

Lightfoot Promises ‘Unprecedented’ Public Participation in Search For Next CPS CEO

While the final decision on a new Chicago Public Schools CEO is ultimately up to Mayor Lori Lightfoot, she said she doesn’t want to make that decision behind closed doors.

Report: ‘Breakdown of Communication’ Led to Mischaracterization of Toledo Shooting in Court

An internal investigation by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office found a “breakdown of communication” and other issues were responsible for the inadvertent mischaracterization of the Adam Toledo shooting in a hearing last month.

COPA Chief Sydney Roberts Resigning From Agency

The chief administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, the agency which investigates police misconduct, has announced she will be resigning from the organization “with a heavy heart” after three years on the job.

Parent Group Makes List of Recommendations for Next CPS CEO

As Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson prepares to walk away from the district at the end of next month, a local parent organization has begun outlining steps it hopes her eventual replacement will take to improve public education across the city.

CPS CEO Janice Jackson to Step Away From School District

Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson says she will be leaving her post this summer, more than three years after she was tapped to lead the nation’s third-largest school district. Jackson joins “Chicago Tonight” to talk about her decision.

Man Faces Attempted Murder Charges After Allegedly Driving Vehicle Into Group in Logan Square

Timothy Nielsen, who is accused of trying to run over a group of friends celebrating a birthday in Logan Square on Saturday, allegedly told a witness, “Watch what I’m going to do,” before he sped his truck toward the victims.

No Bail For 1 of 2 Alleged Gunmen in Killing of 7-Year-Old Jaslyn Adams

Demond Goudy, 21, one of the men accused of killing of 7-year-old Jaslyn Adams, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder this week in the April 18 shooting.

Second Defendant Charged in Attack of On-Duty Police Detective Held on $1 Million Bail

Samuel Flowers, 18, appeared in court Thursday on multiple felony charges including attempted first-degree murder, armed robbery and aggravated battery to a peace officer following an alleged attack earlier this year.

Body Camera Video Shows Officer Fatally Shot Anthony Alvarez as He Fled Police

The video release from the Civilian Office of Police Accountability marks the second time in two weeks the agency has published footage showing a fatal police shooting involving a foot pursuit.

CPS Seeking Community Input on Capital Spending Plans

Six public meetings, including one held entirely in Spanish, have been scheduled for the first week in May before CPS officially releases its fiscal year 2022 capital plan later in the summer.

CPD Calls Out ‘Manipulated Image’ From Viral Tweet Following Chauvin Verdict

The Chicago Police Department has taken to social media to criticize a “synthetic and manipulated image” that went viral and claimed to show the CPD had expressed support for Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis officer convicted of killing George Floyd.

No Bail for Man Charged With Shooting Toddler on Lake Shore Drive

The man accused of shooting toddler Kayden Swann earlier this month allegedly fired multiple shots at the boy’s car from inside his own vehicle before getting out on foot onto Lake Shore Drive and firing several more rounds in broad daylight.

Top Cop David Brown Says He Remains ‘Determined and Committed’ After 1 Year on the Job

A year to the day after the City Council unanimously approved his appointment as Chicago police superintendent, David Brown said he remains “determined and committed” to his job despite a turbulent start to his tenure and speculation about his possible departure.
 

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