PROSECUTORS: BOY’S KILLER WENT ‘HUNTING’
A 39-year-old man was out “hunting” for someone to shoot when he fired multiple shots, killing a 9-year-old boy playing outside near the former Cabrini-Green housing project last week, Cook County prosecutors said Tuesday.
Janari Ricks — an honor-roll student who was about to enter the fourth grade — was shaking hands with a neighbor in a courtyard near the 500 block of West Locust Street Friday when Darrell Johnson allegedly fired at least six shots into the courtyard from the cover of an alley.
Upon hearing the gunshots, Janari turned and ran but collapsed nearby as he was struck in the back and right arm, prosecutors said.
Multiple witnesses identified Johnson as the shooter, and surveillance video captured Johnson’s face as he walked out of the alley, prosecutors said.
Cameras also showed Johnson entering the alley before the shooting and walking with a distinctive limp, the result of him being shot in the leg several years ago, prosecutors said.
As he “wobbled” down the alley, Johnson allegedly peered through a fence as if looking for someone.
“He went hunting,” Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said of Johnson. “According to the video, he’s walking down that alley looking for somebody to shoot [and] clearly saw the group of people, including children, that were out there in that courtyard.”
Janari, whom police described as “an unintended target,” died at Lurie Children’s Hospital.
Johnson was taken into custody Sunday in Chatham when he tried to get into his girlfriend’s Nissan Altima. It was the same vehicle Johnson got into after shooting Janari two days before, prosecutors said.
At a news conference Monday, CPD Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan credited neighbors with helping officers find the alleged gunman quickly.
“We’re not in this position without the help of the community who came forward and gave us information which allowed us to identify and arrest the suspect,” Deenihan said.
Johnson’s attorney, Nick Burris, did not argue against the evidence given by prosecutors Tuesday but said Johnson was a “responsible adult” who should be allowed to post bond and be placed on electronic or GPS monitoring while he awaits trial.
Burris said Johnson is a father of two, has a third child on the way and works in construction to support his family.
He was convicted of a 2005 aggravated vehicular highjacking and sentenced to four years in prison, according to court records. He also has convictions for aggravated battery and a gun offense, prosecutors said.
Judge Susana Ortiz ordered Johnson held without bail.
Based on the allegations, Ortiz said Johnson poses a danger to “all citizens of the community.”
“Unfortunately on this day it happened to be an innocent 9-yearold,” the judge said.