The selection process, which began slowly Monday morning, has continued at a leisurely pace throughout Tuesday. No jurors have yet been officially seated to hear the case.
Stories by matt masterson
‘Chicago Politics?’ ‘Messy’: Jury Selection Continues For a Second Day in Former Ald. Ed Burke’s Corruption Case
Nov 7, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Man Killed, Chicago Police Officer Wounded in South Shore Shooting Monday
Nov 6, 2023 | Matt Masterson
According to a statement from the Chicago Police Department, the shooting occurred just before noon Monday in the 7300 block of South Dante Avenue.
Father of Alleged Highland Park Gunman Pleads Guilty to Reckless Conduct Charges as Trial Was Set to Begin, Gets 60 Days in Prison
Nov 6, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Just as proceedings were set to begin, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart announced that Robert Crimo Jr. had agreed to plead guilty to seven Class A misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct, rather than the seven felony charges he had faced.
Shootings, Homicides in Chicago Continue Downward Trend in 2023 Compared to Recent Years: Police
Nov 3, 2023 | Matt Masterson
With two months left in 2023, Chicago remains on pace for double-digit percentage declines in the number of homicides and shootings recorded in the city as violence crime rates return to pre-pandemic levels.
Father of Alleged Highland Park Parade Gunman Heads to Trial on Charges He Recklessly Helped Son Obtain Firearms
Nov 3, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The bench trial of Robert Crimo Jr. is set to begin Monday in Lake County, more than 16 months after his son — Robert Crimo III — allegedly killed seven people and wounded dozens more during the Highland Park Fourth of July parade.
Despite Lingering Concerns, Consent Decree Monitoring Team Hopeful New Top Cop Can Spur Progress as Full Compliance Stands at 6%
Nov 2, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The independent monitoring team that oversees the CPD’s consent decree implementation published its eighth semi-annual report this week, which found that although the department has reached some level of compliance with 85% of paragraphs, it has only fully complied with 33 out of 552 paragraphs.
Chicago Man Charged After North Lawndale Halloween Party Mass Shooting That Left 15 Wounded
Oct 31, 2023 | Matt Masterson
William Groves, 48, has been charged with 15 counts of attempted first-degree murder, 15 counts of aggravated battery, 15 counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm in an occupied building and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Alleged Highland Park Parade Gunman Won’t Testify at Father’s Reckless Conduct Trial
Oct 30, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Attorneys for Robert Crimo Jr., who is set to go to trial next week on seven counts of reckless conduct, had sought to call his son — alleged parade shooter Robert Crimo III — to testify in his defense.
15 People Wounded in Halloween Party Shooting Early Sunday: Police
Oct 30, 2023 | Matt Masterson
No one was killed, but two people were listed in critical condition and the other 13 victims were hospitalized in fair or good condition following the shooting that took place at around 1 a.m. Sunday in the 1200 block of South Pulaski Road.
Chicago Man Charged After Wave of Arsons Targeting Halloween Decorations in Lincoln Square, North Center
Oct 25, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Chicago police on Wednesday announced Mario Munoz, 34, has been arrested and charged with a felony count of arson and a misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property.
Man Facing Hate Crime Charges After Allegedly Discharging Pepper Spray at Skokie Rally
Oct 25, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Skokie police announced Zevulen Ebert has been charged with two felony battery counts and two felony hate crime counts stemming from an incident at a rally Sunday.
Ta-Nehisi Coates Picked as Commencement Speaker for Northwestern’s Unique Prison Education Program Graduation
Oct 24, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The first cohort of students in Northwestern University’s Prison Education Program are set to graduate next month, and when they do they’ll be joined by one of the most renowned writers and journalists in the country.
Cook County Prosecutors Won’t Charge Man Accused of Firing Gun Near Pro-Palestinian Rally in Skokie
Oct 24, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The incident occurred Sunday evening near a banquet hall in Skokie, where about 1,000 people had gathered to show solidarity with Israel, according to event organizers. A group of about 200 pro-Palestinian protesters also staged their own rally near the hall.
Chicago Immigration Attorney Facing Fraud Charges Faked Job Offers and Advised Clients to Enter Sham Marriages, Prosecutors Say
Oct 23, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Mohammad Reza Baniassadi allegedly conspired to provide fraudulent information to U.S. immigration authorities to obtain benefits for his foreign national clients over the course of seven years.
12-Year-Old Boy Among 7 People Killed By Gunfire Over Weekend in Chicago: Police
Oct 23, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The victim — who was identified as Damien Green, according to Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office records — was one of 23 total people who were shot in 22 separate shooting incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
Chicago Teen Wounded by Police in Guitar Store Shooting Reaches $1.9M Settlement With City of Des Plaines
Oct 19, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Attorneys for Rylan Wilder announced Thursday their client had settled with the city of Des Plaines, just as they were about to go to trial over claims that the officer’s actions were excessive and represented willful and wanton conduct.
‘Nobody Can Sit on the Sidelines’: Chicago’s Top Cop Larry Snelling Talks Training, Technology and Community Trust
Oct 18, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The Englewood native has been Chicago’s top cop for less than a month, but after spending nearly three decades serving in various roles throughout the department, he believes he knows what’s needed to make improvements for his officers and residents throughout the city.
CPS Announces New High School Admissions Testing Dates After Technical Issues Halted Previous Exam
Oct 18, 2023 | Matt Masterson
CPS officials said the High School Admissions Test will be held for district students on either Oct. 24 or Oct. 25 for those taking the exam in English. Students testing in Spanish, Arabic, Polish, Urdu or Simplified Chinese will take the HSAT at school on Nov. 1.
Chicago Police Warn of Arsonist Targeting Halloween Decorations Around Lincoln Square, North Center
Oct 17, 2023 | Matt Masterson
According to police, the person initially ignited several sidewalk autumn or Halloween displays along with some street corner garbage cans. The last three fires have been set with decorations on the front porches of homes.
Pedestrian Fatally Struck While Crossing DuSable Lake Shore Drive: Police
Oct 17, 2023 | Matt Masterson
According to Chicago police, two adult men were attempting to walk across the 800 block of North Lake Shore Drive just before 5:30 a.m. The pair were not in a crosswalk, police said, and one of the men was struck by a BMW X-3 that was heading southbound.
Justice Department Launches Federal Hate Crime Investigation Into Plainfield Stabbing That Left 6-Year-Old Muslim Boy Dead
Oct 16, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The Justice Department on Sunday announced it has opened a federal hate crimes investigation into the fatal stabbing, after 71-year-old Joseph Czuba allegedly stabbed Wadea Al-Fayoume, 6, and his mother, 32-year-old Hanaan Shahin, in a Plainfield Township home.
4 People Killed By Gunfire Over Weekend in Chicago: Police
Oct 16, 2023 | Matt Masterson
According to Chicago Police Department data, 21 people were struck by gunfire in 19 separate shooting incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m Sunday.
Chicago Police Not Aware of Active Threats, But Will Increase Patrols Across City in Jewish and Palestinian Community Areas
Oct 13, 2023 | Matt Masterson
The Chicago Police Department says it will be deploying additional patrols this weekend to local mosques and synagogues as tensions continue amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Skokie Police Investigate Students’ Online Conversation About Niles North High School, Synagogue and a Bomb
Oct 13, 2023 | Matt Masterson
“Thank you to our community partners who shared this information to assist with an expeditious investigation into this incident in light of recent events, including the current conflict in Israel,” the department said in a statement.
Brother of Man Charged With Killing Chicago Police Officer Ella French Pleads Guilty to Gun Charges
Oct 12, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Eric Morgan, who faced charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and obstruction of justice, has reached a plea agreement more than two years after the shooting, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office announced.
Man Who Spent 16 Years in Prison for Rolling Meadows Killing Set for Release After Murder Charges Dropped
Oct 11, 2023 | Matt Masterson
Patrick Taylor, who spent 16 years in custody following his arrest and conviction in the fatal shooting of a suburban rapper in a Rolling Meadows home, is set to be released Wednesday after prosecutors dropped charges against him.