2 in custody in congressman’s grandson’s killing
Police: Dispute over gym shoes led to shooting
Two people have been taken into custody and were being interrogated by police Saturday night in the fatal shooting of Congressman Danny Davis’ 14- year- old grandson in Englewood.
Police say a dispute over gym shoes led to the fatal shooting of 14- year- old Javon Wilson.
About 6: 45 p. m. Friday, Wilson was inside his home in the 5600 block of South Princeton when two people came in, started arguing with him and then shot him in the head, according to Chicago Police and a statement from the congressman.
Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene at 7: 32 p. m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
In a tweet Saturday night, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the two people who were in custody were both juveniles and were being classified as suspects in the shooting death of Wilson.
Charges of first degree murder were expected and more information would be released once they were charged, Guglielmi said.
The shooting was “not random” and was not a home invasion, according to Guglielmi, who also said Wilson knew his attackers and they may have been friends at some point.
According to Davis, the two people who broke in were a 17- year- old girl and a 15- year- old boy who pulled a gun.
“I grieve for my family,” Davis said. “I grieve for the young man who pulled the trigger. I grieve for his family, his parents, his friends, some of whom will never see him again.”
Wilson’s mother had just left to pick up food before the shooting, leaving the boy with his two brothers, ages 8 and 14; his 16- year- old sister, and an uncle, Davis said.
Davis said he was told a 15- year- old boy traded slacks for gym shoes with Wilson’s 14- year- old brother and went to Wilson’s house with a 17- year- old girl to reverse the trade when the boy shot Wilson.
Davis wondered how the 15- year- old boy obtained a gun and who allowed him to have it. He said the answer is that “the availability of guns is so prevalent in America you almost can’t tell who has a gun” anymore.
A spokeswoman for Davis said Wilson was a well- liked sophomore at Perspectives Charter School and was an avid basketball fan.
“What could have prevented this tragedy? Better education, more supervision after school activity. Better parenting,” Davis said.