Stories by Matt Masterson
15-Year-Old Girl Among 5 People Killed Overnight in Shootings Across Chicago: Police
| Matt Masterson
The homicides all occurred within a matter of hours between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Chicago Police Department.
Cook County Board Set to Approve $17M Settlement With Jackie Wilson, Who Spent Decades Behind Bars Following Wrongful Murder Conviction
| Matt Masterson
The Cook County Board of Commissioners will vote on the proposed settlement with Jackie Wilson, who was convicted of the 1982 killings of Chicago police Officers William Fahey and Richard O’Brien, based largely on a false confession he said he gave after he was repeatedly beaten and electroshocked.
Reports: Bears Planning to Spend $2B on New Domed Stadium in Chicago
| Matt Masterson
Several news organizations on Monday morning reported that the team has backed off possible plans to build a stadium in suburban Arlington Heights and will instead now provide private funding for a new publicly owned stadium in Chicago.
1 Person Killed, 12 Wounded in Weekend Shootings Across Chicago: Police
| Matt Masterson
According to the Chicago Police Department, 13 people were shot in 13 separate incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
Feds Recover $1.4M Allegedly Tied to Cryptocurrency Fraud Scam
| Matt Masterson
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago announced it seized approximately $1.4 million of cryptocurrency, which will be now returned to people who lost their money through an alleged fraud scheme.
Homicides in Chicago Down 20% to Start 2024 Compared to Last Year: Police
| Matt Masterson
There have been 64 homicides recorded through February, according to the Chicago Police Department, and 292 shooting victims from 253 total shootings.
Emonte Morgan Convicted of Murder in Fatal 2021 Shooting of Chicago Police Officer Ella French
| Matt Masterson
Officer Ella French was shot and killed during a traffic stop on Aug. 7, 2021. Emonte Morgan, 23, is charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder.
3 Killed by Gunfire Over Holiday Weekend Across Chicago: Police
| Matt Masterson
According to Chicago Police Department data, 29 people were shot in 24 separate incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Monday.
‘ComEd Four’ Sentencing Dates Delayed Until Later This Year as U.S. Supreme Court Weighs Separate Bribery Case
| Matt Masterson
U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber on Thursday ruled that the “ComEd Four” will not be sentenced until after the high court issues its ruling in a separate case involving James Snyder, a former Indiana mayor who was found guilty of accepting a bribe.
Chicago Officer Critically Wounded Alongside Ella French Recounts Shooting Aftermath, Recovery
| Matt Masterson
Ex-Chicago police Officer Carlos Yanez Jr., who was critically wounded in the shooting that left his partner Ella French dead, said he has no recollection of the altercation itself, which left him severely injured.
‘Absolute Carnage’: Opening Statements, Testimony Begin in Murder Trial of Officer Ella French’s Alleged Killer
| Matt Masterson
A sea of Chicago police officers and officials filled Judge Ursula Walowski’s fifth-floor courtroom as opening statements got underway at the Leighton Criminal Court Building Tuesday, more than two and a half years after Officer Ella French was killed.
14-Year-Old Boy Among 3 Killed in Chatham Home Shooting Sunday: Police
| Matt Masterson
According to the Chicago Police Department, four people were killed by gunfire and another 17 people were wounded in separate shootings between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
Chicago Police Officer Ella French’s Alleged Killer Set to Go to Trial This Week
| Matt Masterson
Jury selection in the trial of Emonte Morgan is set to begin Monday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building — more than two and a half years after he allegedly shot and killed the 29-year-old police officer.
With Democratic National Convention Coming to Chicago, CPS Board OKs Delayed Start Date For 2024-25 School Year
| Matt Masterson
The DNC is scheduled to run from Aug. 19-22 at the United Center. Classes this fall for CPS students are now slated to begin Aug. 26 and run until June 12, 2025.
CPS Board Approves Plan to Remove Resource Officers From Schools
| Matt Masterson
The seven-member board unanimously approved the resolution, which directs CPS CEO Pedro Martinez to implement a new whole school safety policy, which “must make explicit that the use of SROs within District schools will end by the start of the 2024-2025 school year.”
2 Teens Facing Murder Charges in Shooting That Killed 1 Senn High School Student, Wounded 2 Others
| Matt Masterson
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office announced Kashawn Perdue, 17, and a 14-year-old juvenile boy have both been charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder following the Jan. 31 killing of Daveon Gibson.
Man Charged With Killing 7 People, Wounding Dozens More During Highland Park Parade Set to Stand Trial in February 2025
| Matt Masterson
Robert Crimo III had briefly been set to go to trial this week after he temporarily demanded to represent himself. But after he changed his mind, Judge Victoria Rossetti on Wednesday reset the initial Feb. 24, 2025 trial date.
Chicago Suing Oil, Gas Companies Over ‘Climate Deception’
| Matt Masterson
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court, against BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, Phillips 66, Shell and their largest trade association, the American Petroleum Institute.
Chicago Public Schools Set to Stop Using Resource Officers by Start of Next School Year, Resolution States
| Matt Masterson
A new resolution from the city’s Board of Education directs Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez to enact a new whole school safety policy, which “must make explicit that the use of SROs within District schools will end by the start of the 2024-2025 school year.”
3 People Killed by Gunfire, 2 Young Boys Wounded in Holiday Weekend Shootings Across Chicago: Police
| Matt Masterson
According to Chicago Police Department data, 19 people were injured or killed in 16 separate shootings between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Monday.
CPS Shows Strong Academic Recovery After COVID-19 Pandemic, Study Finds
| Matt Masterson
District officials are lauding the findings from Harvard and Stanford researchers, which showed CPS was first in reading recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic among large school districts across the country.
Autopsy Reveals Sepsis, Other Viruses Caused Death of 5-Year-Old Migrant Boy Who Fell Ill at Pilsen Shelter
| Matt Masterson
Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office records indicate Jean Carlos Martinez Rivero’s death was ruled “natural” and attributed to sepsis and other viruses, including COVID-19, adenovirus and rhinovirus/enterovirus.
‘The Need is So Vital’: Cook County Court Clerk Launches New Department Focused on Expungements
| Matt Masterson
Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez on Thursday cut the ribbon on her office’s new Expungement Department, housed at the Leighton Criminal Court Building at 26th Street and California Avenue.
Chicago Public Schools Set to Cut Ties With Aramark Cleaning Management Company
| Matt Masterson
The Board of Education next week will vote on whether to replace Aramark with seven other vendor companies to provide custodial and professional services for district schools.
Intent on Coaching Again, Pat Fitzgerald Pushing for December Trial Date in Lawsuit Against Northwestern
| Matt Masterson
During a hearing Tuesday, Fitzgerald’s attorney Dan Webb argued that the case would have to go to trial later this year in order for Fitzgerald to have any chance of getting a job during the next coaching cycle ahead of the 2025 college football season.
Madigan’s Ex-Chief of Staff Tim Mapes Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison Following Perjury Conviction
| Matt Masterson
U.S. District Judge John Kness will hand down the sentence during a hearing in a Chicago courtroom Monday — more than five months after Mapes was convicted of making false declarations and attempted obstruction of justice.
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