Family of slain retired firefighter saddened one of suspects ‘a child’
Police say a 15-year-old boy charged with an attempted carjacking that took the life of a retired Chicago firefighter was known to authorities as a member of a “crew” that stole cars in the south suburbs.
But the family of Dwain Williams said they wondered whether a suspect so young fully realized the consequences of what he did.
“We are, of course, saddened that this was a child,” said Williams’ daughter, Dakeeda Williams-Barton. “I’m very disheartened that this was essentially a baby that has — I don’t even know if they understand the repercussion their actions have caused.”
The teen has been charged with murder in connection with the botched carjacking Dec. 3 outside Williams’ favorite popcorn shop on the Southwest Side.
Police say the boy was riding in a black Ford Fusion with others around 2:30 p.m. when they spotted Williams driving a maroon Jeep Grand Cherokee and followed him to the shop in the 2400 block of West 118th Street in the Beverly Woods neighborhood.
They waited for him to come out and three of them left the Ford and confronted Williams,
65. He pulled out a revolver from his waistband and exchanged gunfire, police said. Williams was hit once in the abdomen and collapsed. The three got back into the car and sped down Artesian Avenue.
Police foundWilliams lying on the pavement next to his Jeep with his revolver close by. Three types of shell casingswere found at the scene: 9 mm, .40 caliber and .38 caliber.
Williams worked for the Chicago Fire Department for more than two decades.
Chicago police later released video that showed the fatal shooting in hopes of identifying the shooters, and community activists announced contributions toward a reward that grew to about $34,000.
The 15-year-old, not identified because he has been charged as a juvenile, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 400 block of West 16th Street in Chicago Heights, police said.
During a court hearing Thursday, a judge ordered the teen held in custody after prosecutors said the attack was calculated. The teen’s public defender had argued against detention, saying no witnesses identified him as firing a gun.
Chicago police said an adult suspect was also in custody and two more suspects were being sought.
Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said investigators, including the FBI and south suburban police departments, learned the four were involved in other carjackings and auto thefts.
“The south suburban departments were very familiar with this crew and believed they knew some of these offenders,” Deenihan said.