Stories by Matt Masterson

Rafael Harvey, 17, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, attempted vehicular hijacking and other felonies after a shooting that left one man dead and another injured outside a Citgo gas station Tuesday.

That total marks a double-digit percentage decline over each of the last two years, according to Chicago Police Department data, but would still sit as the fourth most homicides in the city since 1999.

Jason McMahan was denied bail during a hearing Wednesday, one day after he was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of aggravated battery stemming from the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Tashawnna Anderson.

Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said the additional officers will be sent into neighborhoods and high-traffic areas like Navy Pier, where a fireworks show will ring in the new year Saturday night.

Kankakee County Judge Thomas Cunnington issued his ruling after dozens of state’s attorneys sued to prevent Illinois from eliminating cash bail beginning Jan. 1.

When the Pretrial Fairness Act, a section of the Illinois SAFE-T Act, goes into effect Jan. 1, those charged in criminal cases in dozens of counties across Illinois will no longer have to pay any cash in order to be released from jail while they wait for their trial.

According to Chicago Police Department data, 19 people were shot between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Monday.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Thursday said the city is expected to move from a “medium” risk level for contracting COVID-19 back to a “high” risk level, likely sometime in the next week. When that happens, the city will reinstate an advisory, urging Chicagoans to mask up.

Ashley Goss, 39, was arrested Monday just moments after an incident inside the Chicago Red Line station on the Near North Side. He was ordered held without bail during a hearing Wednesday afternoon.

Federal investigators allegedly identified Agnieszka Chwiesiuk in photos and videos from inside the Capitol building during the riot. According to the feds, she can be seen alongside her brother, Karol Chwiesiuk, a CPD officer who is facing five misdemeanor charges stemming from his own alleged involvement in the riot.

According to Chicago Police Department data, there were 12 separate shootings between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday. No one was killed during that time frame, but a 16-year-old girl was fatally shot just before 6 p.m. Friday.

The shooting occurred Friday as classes were being dismissed according to Police Superintendent David Brown.

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart announced Robert Crimo Jr. — the father of Robert Crimo III — was arrested Friday and charged with seven counts of reckless conduct.

Chicago police have again improved their compliance levels on court-mandated reforms under the consent decree, but the independent monitor tracking the department’s progress says it must “significantly improve” its partnerships with community residents.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability on Thursday released surveillance videos from the Nov. 1 shooting, which occurred during an alleged robbery in progress in the 1800 block of North Monticello Avenue.

Chicago police announced the student has been charged with felony counts of unlawful use of a weapon and threat to a school building. He was also cited for possessing a high capacity magazine and metal piercing bullets.

Jamel Danzy, 40, pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiring to straw purchase the semi-automatic handgun that was used to kill Ella French and critically wound her partner Officer Carlos Yanez in August 2021.

Prosecutors said William Kohles was upset over crime rates in Chicago when he allegedly wrote a threatening message to Mayor Lori Lightfoot in which he claimed he would shoot the mayor. 

Jay Bollyn, 69, was arrested on hate crime charges and ordered held on a $100,000 D-bond during a court hearing Tuesday. He must post $10,000 to be released from custody.

The Chicago Police Department on Monday evening issued a community alert notifying residents on the city’s North and West sides after at least 50 armed robberies have been carried out between Dec. 7 and Dec. 10.

Edwin Lagunas, 18, has been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder and an additional count of aggravated battery with a firearm stemming from the Nov. 20 shooting that left Ruby Navarrete and Lynner Hawkins dead.

According to Chicago Police Department data, 20 people were shot in 17 separate shooting incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday. That included a triple homicide following a fight at a bar in the 5500 block of West School Street.

Cook County prosecutors are enacting new changes to an existing search warrant policy this month, with an aim at improving communication and accountability while eliminating mistaken raids at incorrect locations.

Bryon Ortega, 19, was charged this week with aggravated criminal sexual abuse, criminal sexual assault and two child pornography-related charges after he allegedly abused two high school students.

“Everything I have in my life I owe to public education,” Sendhil Revuluri said during the meeting. “Our city, our students, our educators all need and deserve a board that listens to the community, focuses on student outcomes, sets clear goals to drive our progress and then holds one another and our district accountable for that progress.”

Chicago police are seeking the community’s help after a 15-year-old boy was fatally shot outside Michele Clark Magnet High School Tuesday afternoon.