Gaven Leon, 18, was charged Monday with one count of first-degree murder in connection with the unprovoked Feb. 3 shooting of 30-year-old Ryan Balbag, who was killed as he drove down Irving Park Road with two of his friends.
Stories by matt masterson
1 Killed, 27 Others Wounded in Weekend Shootings Across Chicago: Police
Multiple teens were among those who were injured in 20 separate shooting incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday, according to Chicago police data.
Stacy Davis Gates Wins Election to Become Next CTU President
The Chicago Teachers Union will officially have a new leader as vice president Stacy Davis Gates defeated two other challengers to become president of the powerful labor organization.
Chicago Police Officer Shot 13-Year-Old Boy During Foot Pursuit
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability in a statement Thursday said the boy survived the shooting and was hospitalized in serious condition.
‘Our Students Need More Support Than Ever’: City Committee Questions, Criticizes Proposed CPS Budget Cuts
“We’re not asking for an additional anything, just save our teachers” a Chicago Public Schools parent said Tuesday. “We’re not asking for more, we’re just asking for the status quo.”
CPS Watchdog Finds Hundreds of Students Were Automatically Entered Into JROTC Programs
The district’s Office of Inspector General on Wednesday published a significant action report that showed hundreds of CPS freshmen have been automatically enrolled into the military instruction program over the last two school years.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker Signs New Law Banning Unregistered ‘Ghost Guns’ in Illinois
Gov. J.B. Pritzker joined local and legislative officials at the Ark of St. Sabina in Chicago to sign HB 4383 into law, effectively banning Illinoisians from building their own unserialized firearms from kits at home.
Chicago Heights Man Gets 37 Months in Prison For Threatening Violence at Biden Inauguration
U.S. District Judge Ronald A. Guzman on Tuesday sentenced Louis Capriotti, 47, to 37 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce.
Suspect in Lincoln Park Shooting ‘Terrorized’ Neighborhood With Series of Armed Robberies: Prosecutors
Tyshon Brownlee, 19, has been charged with one count each of attempted first-degree murder and attempted robbery involving the discharge of a firearm stemming from the non-fatal May 6 shooting of 23-year-old culinary student Dakotah Earley in Lincoln Park.
Teen Charged in Fatal Millennium Park Shooting Moved to Adult Court, Held on $250K Bond
In addition an arrest in the fatal schooting, police say charges are also currently pending against six adults and one possible juvenile accused of spray-painting the Bean and Cancer Survivor Wall in Maggie Daley Park.
3 Teens Among 5 People Killed in Weekend Shootings Across Chicago: Police
33 people shot in 28 separate shootings
Chicago police said five people were killed and 28 others were injured in 28 separate shootings over the weekend. That included a 17-year-old killed Friday, a 19-year-old killed Saturday and Seandell Holliday, 16, who was shot and killed near “The Bean” sculpture.
10 Reputed Members of Four Corner Hustlers Gang Charged With Drug Conspiracy After Undercover Operation
Ten reputed members of the Four Corner Hustlers street gang have been arrested and charged with conspiring to sell heroin and cocaine at open-air drug markets on Chicago’s West Side following a massive undercover investigation.
1 Man Charged, 2 Others Wanted in Brazen Shooting That Left 2 Men Dead and ‘Lit Up Humboldt Park’
John Corona, 25, is being held without bail after he was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the killings of 35-year-old Antwon Gee and 34-year-old Devel Jones.
1 Killed, 10 Wounded in Pair of Mass Shootings in Chicago Tuesday: Police
Police Superintendent David Brown said one teen was killed and four others were wounded in a Back of the Yards shooting Tuesday afternoon that investigators believe was the result of escalating gang violence between two factions in the area.
CPS Launching New Initiative Focused on Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, CPS will begin the “Please Stay” initiative, which is focused on suicide prevention and prioritizing the mental health of students dealing with increased levels of anxiety and stress.
R. Kelly’s Federal Trial in Chicago Starts Aug. 1 After Judge Denies Request to Delay
More than 200 participants joined the public teleconference call Tuesday morning, which devolved into a yelling match between several people after the judge denied Kelly’s motion.
New Statistical Model Can Help Root Out Misconduct and Crime Among Chicago Police, Northwestern Study Says
In a new study published Wednesday, researchers found that police misconduct is often a “group phenomenon” that leads to a disproportionately high number of arrests in minority communities.
Top Cop David Brown Again Criticizes Courts as Elimination of Cash Bail Nears
24 people shot, 6 killed over weekend in Chicago
Murders and shootings remain down slightly in 2022. But after highlighting several recent arrests in cases involving shootings, robberies, carjackings or homicides, Superintendent David Brown said many of the suspects charged are repeat offenders.
COPA Temporarily Barred From Publishing Video, Materials From March Police Shooting
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability said a court order published Wednesday is preventing the release of any materials stemming from the non-fatal March 28 shooting of 28-year-old James Callion.
Chicago Police Launching Cold Case Video Series Focused on Unsolved Homicides
The Chicago Police Department is seeking help to solve cold case homicides through a video series that’s aimed at bringing renewed attention on some of the city’s long dormant unsolved crimes.
At Least 8 Killed in Weekend Chicago Shootings, But Police Say Homicides and Shootings Down in 2022
Through the end of April, 178 people have been killed in Chicago this year, according to Chicago Police Department data. That marks a 7% decline over the same time last year, though it’s still a higher total year-over-year compared to the first four months of 2020 and 2019.
Woman Killed at Brickyard Mall Had Protective Order Against Husband Accused of Killing Her
Jennifer Hamilton, 47, was sitting in her car on a video teleconference with her doctor outside a Target at the mall when her husband, 50-year-old Alphonso Hamilton allegedly approached and shot her five times.
CPS, Lurie Children’s Hospital Expanding Student Mental Health Pilot Into All District Schools
CPS and Lurie announced Thursday they’ll ensure every district-run school can participate in the program, which helps identify and address students in need of mental health support.
CPS Looking to Improve Transparency, Accountability as It Continues to Rethink School Safety
Chicago Public Schools said it expects to begin publishing student discipline and safety data in the coming weeks, a year after dozens of high schools voted to reduce or eliminate their school resource officer (SRO) programs.
Chicago Man Allegedly Beat Victim to Death With Hammer in Englewood Apartment, Dragged Body into Alley
Gregory Stamps, 31, has been charged with first-degree murder in the Sunday morning killing of 42-year-old David Castile at an Englewood apartment. Stamps, who appeared in court for a hearing Tuesday afternoon, was ordered held without bail.
Walter Payton, Northside College Prep Listed Among Top High Schools in Nation on U.S. News Rankings
5 CPS Schools included among top 100 in nation
According to the annual list released Tuesday, Walter Payton College Prep was ranked as the No. 5 high school in the country for 2022, once again placing first in both Chicago and across all of Illinois.
