Suburban Man Charged in Killing of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee
In one of Chicago’s most high profile killings, a 27-year-old Lansing, Ill. man was charged with murdering 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee.
Corey Morgan was accused last week of being involved in a shooting that killed Lee on Nov. 2 in an alley near 80th and Damien streets.
Morgan, who is being held without bond, is the first suspect to be charged in the case.
“I would like to commend Supt. Garry McCarthy, the leadership of the Chicago Police Dept., and the men and women of the police for identifying the individuals believed to have targeted and killed 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. “All of Chicago grieves for this young life taken far too soon, and we must ensure that justice is served.”
The boy was killed allegedly to avenge a shooting three weeks earlier in which Morgan’s mother was wounded and his 25-year old brother was killed, officials said.
On Oct. 13, the mother and son were shot after they left a gang-intervention meeting, officials said.
Morgan’s father allegedly has ties to a street gang, officials have said.
After the October shooting incident, Morgan and two other suspects – members of the Black P Stones faction known as Terror Dome or Bang Band Gang – drove around regularly with guns looking to get revenge, Cook County officials said.
On Nov. 2, the group drove to Dawes Park, 8052 S. Damen Ave., and got out of the black SUV and walked to a play lot, officials said. While Lee was swinging, the three suspects allegedly talked for a few minutes.
Then Morgan and a second person left in the SUV, and a third suspect talked to Lee, who had been playing basketball. That suspect allegedly lured the boy to an alley before Lee was slain.
Lee was shot five times. His basketball was found nearby. Police didn’t say who pulled the trigger.
Police tried to question Morgan shortly after the shooting. He was released. A couple of weeks later, the man was arrested and charged with a weapons violation unrelated to Lee’s death.
Morgan posted bond in that case. He later was arrested and charged with murder in the Lee case.
The shooting sparked national attention. Officials said they were dumbfounded that someone as young as Lee would be allegedly targeted.
The shooting came just after Chicago suffered a bloody summer.
According to the Chicago Tribune, there have been at least 2,740 shootings in Chicago, an increase of more than 400 from the same period last year. There also have been 42 more homicides over last year’s numbers for a total of 444 killings
Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, eight people were killed and 20 others were wounded in shootings in Chicago, officials said.
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