Missing Information

I got a text message from Policeman X yesterday telling me about two homicides in his district. I will post more info about these when I get it. Interestingly, these two murders seem to have slipped through the media...hmm...

Monday, June 7th (1)

Mark Johnson
18 years old
Johnson died today, three days after being shot in the Grand Crossing neighborhood. Johnson was shot after 5 p.m. on Friday in the 6700 block of Blackstone Avenue. He was pronounced dead at 1:17 p.m. at Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was taken after suffering a gunshot wound to his head.

Eight Forty-Eight

I was interviewed by Richard Steele yeasterday morning on Chicago Public Radio's program Eight Forty-Eight.
Listen here

Monday June 7th - Blogger Black Out

Blogger was blacked out yesterday.

Update: At Least 5 Shot, 3 Dead Overnight

Saturday, June 5th (1)


Patricia Clark
51 years old
Clark was shot at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday in the 9300 block of South Ridgeland Avenue. She was playing cards at the residence when an argument flared between her and a female friend. The friend went into a back bedroom, grabbed a gun, and shot the victim multiple times. The woman was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn on Thursday, but she died from her injuries at 8:41 p.m. Saturday. The woman who shot the victim is in police custody.

Sunday June 6th (2)


Shannon Byars
39 years old
Byars was shot to death early this morning in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago's South Side. At about 12:45 a.m., police responded to shots fired in the 5600 block of South Morgan Avenue and found the wounded man. The victim, who was shot in the leg and chest, was taken to Stroger Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 1:35 p.m.


Dwoyne Baker
29 years old
At about 10:48 p.m., officers responded to reports of shots fired on the 7900 block of South Brandon Avenue in the city's South Chicago neighborhood. When they arrived, they found Baker with a gunshot wound to his head, shot to death. He is listed as living in the block where he was gunned down. He was pronounced dead at 11:39 p.m. at South Shore Hospital, said the spokeman. A witness told police that Baker was hit by gunfire from a passing vehicle.

Police Woman "C"

I am excited to say that I officially have another police officer willing to help me out with this project, police woman C . I had drinks with her last night to discuss logistics. I don't think she'll be wearing this outfit because she is not going to a Halloween party, but otherwise, everything seems to be panning out as I hoped.

We are planning on going out to take the first set of photos next week.

I am going to be on Chicago Public Radio on Monday morning to talk about the project. They contacted me yesterday. I don't know how they heard about it, but I am greatful for the opportunity to get the word out. I will update when I know more about what time, show, etc.

Otherwise, today was a quiet day.

Update: Week 1

click for a much better view

Well, the first week of summer saw 10 12 homicides from what I can tell. Something I have learned so far in this process is that nothing seems very well documented or reported (at least for the public). Many accounts have different information depending on the news source. I recognize that the information that I have here may not be complete or entirely accurate, but I am going to do my best to keep everything updated with the most current and exact information I can find.

I am working on understanding and using the Chicago Police Department's CLEARMAP website. Once I can crack that I will be able to give you the information as reported by the police department. Until then...well...bear with me.