Bicyclist killed by hit-and-run

A man was struck and killed by a hit-and-run vehicle while riding his bicycle Thursday night in far north suburban Winthrop Harbor, police said. The victim, a man in his 50s, was riding north on his bicycle on the far right side of Sheridan Road when a sport-utility vehicle struck him from behind, Willets said.The bicyclist was taken to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, where he was pronounced dead shortly after the crash, Willets said. His identity was not being released early Friday pending the notification of family.
Willets said the SUV was last seen heading north on Sheridan Road from the scene. Witnesses could only describe it as dark blue or black, and police believe the vehicle sustained damage to the passenger side corner panel and headlight, Willets said.Police had no information on the vehicle's license plate and could not say how many occupants there were at the time.Anyone with information can call police at 847-872-2131
Article from chicagotribune.com http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-winthrop-harbor-fatal-web-may10,0,4817818.story

This is absolutely terrible. How can someone live with themselves knowing they hit someone on then left them to die? There are so many careless drives on the roads! This has been the second person to die in the last week in the Chicagoland area from a bicycle-car accident. I feel for the families of the victims. These stories of bicycle deaths really hit home for me because that is how my uncle died, just 3 years ago. Lets watch out for bicyclist while driving and drive more respectively and carefully. Hopefully the person responsible will come forward and take responsibility for his or her actions.

Berwyn boy, 14, convicted in fatal stabbing of classmate

Tribune staff report

11:48 PM CDT, May 8, 2008

A 14-year-old boy was convicted Thursday of first-degree murder for stabbing a classmate as they walked home from a Berwyn middle school in February 2007, according to the Cook County state's attorney's office.

Circuit Judge Edward Pietrucha found the boy guilty of stabbing Ricardo Hernandez, 13, near 31st Street and Euclid Avenue as the boys were returning from Heritage Middle School, said Assistant State's Atty. John Somerville. Hernandez of Berwyn died at the University of Illinois Medical Center, Somerville said. School officials told police the boys had a lunchtime altercation.

Pietrucha will sentence the boy June 4 to between 20 and 60 years in adult detention. The boy would serve the adult sentence if he violates any law while in juvenile detention until age 21.

*What bothers me the most about this article is not that Berwyn is close to where I live in Brookfield, but rather that a 14 year old boy STABBED a 13 year old boy. Does anyone else see a problem with this or are we all so numb to the horrible things happening in the daily society that it can go unnoticed? A thirteen year old is now dead and for what reason? Because officials say they had "a lunch time altercation." To whatever extent that may be, two questions should be raised: How safe should we feel knowing that our children are now walking around armed? And also what has our society come to that 14 year olds are killing people. At 14 years old no one has even begun to live, that's right before you graduated from middle school. Do you remember that? I was at S.E. Gross Middle School and there was never a thought in my mind that anyone around me was carrying a weapon that could potentially end my life, and I got to see that graduation stage. Unfortunatly for both those boys, neither of them will because of "a lunch time altercation." Just think about that.

A 3-year-old boy was wounded on Chicago's South Side Monday night.

By John Garcia
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A 3-year-old boy was wounded on Chicago's South Side Monday night.
He was with his mother when shots were fired. He was hit in the shoulder.
He was shot just after 6 p.m. near 77th and May in Chicago's Gresham neighborhood.
The bullet entered near his shoulder and exited without causing any major damage. But the police say this is another example of the random violence that continues to plague the city. Police say 3-year-old Marshaun Williams was standing outside with his parents when gunfire erupted. Witnesses said they heard as many as a dozen shots. One struck the boy near the shoulder blade.
"The children were out playing on a hot day. The mom was out here, too. All of a sudden gunfire erupted," said Andrew Holmes, family friend.
Chicago police performed roll call in the neighborhood shortly after the shooting, sending a message they plan to crackdown on such violence. They believe the shooting may have been gang related. But the 3-year-old victim clearly was not the intended target.
"We're trying to get the guns off the street. There are too many weapons on the street in the hands of the wrong people," said Commander Eddie Johnson, Chicago Police.
Neighbors say it was a very dangerous situation. There were a lot of children outside when the shooting began.
"I have a 2-year old. She was out here five minutes before. And I have a newborn; it could have been my baby," said Tanya Williams, neighbor.
Marshaun waited in the hospital, but the family is encouraged that while he was in a lot of pain, he was conscious and talking.
"The baby, he was in good spirits when they took him. He really was," said Michelle Sellers, witness.
And the police have taken at least four people in for questioning. They declined to call any suspects.
Marshaun's mother is pregnant and receiving medical attention as well. She wasn't physically injured by the shooting.
Marshawn is in good condition and could go home today.


This is really sad that this innocent 3-year-old boy got caught up in the violence that is being a huge issue in Chicago. I feel terrible that he now has to deal with this injury, and that he was just being a good kid and playing outside when this happened. I think that something really needs to be done about this guns & violence issue that's been erupting lately in Chicago. It is becoming a bigger and bigger problem and I think that more police should be out patrolling the streets there, as well as a crackdown on guns being sold. Haven't enough young and innocent children been injured & killed by gunfire and violence?

Chicago Man Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver

Chicago man killed by hit-and-run driver
Monday, May 05, 2008 8:52 AM

CHICAGO -- Chicago police say a 36-year-old man died shortly after a hit-and-run accident yesterday on the city's South Side.
Officers say John Barnes was struck by a vehicle near East 85th Street and South Stony Island Avenue early yesterday morning.
Barnes was taken to Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead about 45 minutes after the accident.
Officer John Mirabelli says police have found the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run and had a woman in custody, but no charges had been filed as of last night.
(Copyright ©2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


It is really sad to seem that someone just plowed into this man with their car and didn't even stop driving to see if he was ok or even call 911 for that matter. The driver basically left him to die, which he did.

Boy, 5, shoots himself in head, parents charged

Boy, 5, shoots himself in head, parents charged

May 4, 2008

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FROM STNG WIRE REPORTS

The parents of a 5-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself in the head with a gun inside his residence were charged early Sunday.

The boy was critically wounded after being shot in the head at 5:42 p.m. Saturday in the 6100 block of South Wabash Avenue, police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli said. The boy was taken to University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital in critical condition.

The child’s parents were both charged in connection with the shooting, according to police News Affairs.

The father, Cortney Rodgers, 26, was charged with one count each of endangering the life and health of a child, possessing a firearm without a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification Card (FOID) and failing to register a firearm.

The mother, Dorothy Hayden, 27, was charged with one count of endangering the life and health of a child.

All the charges are misdemeanors.

Both parents are scheduled to appear in court May 19.


*Article from this mornings Sunday SunTimes (website: www.suntimes.com)

People Stealing Manhole Covers??

Manhole Covers Among Latest Targets Of Thieves
Increase In Metal Thefts Could Be Another Sign Of Economic Downturn



OAK LAWN, Ill. (CBS) ― There has been a rash of thefts in south suburban Oak Lawn, and it's costing taxpayers lots of money. The targets are manhole covers, and police say it's the sign of a declining economy. CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports manhole covers weigh at least 125 pounds, and they're not easy to pry off. But since mid-March eight of them have been stolen, leaving gaping holes in alleys and streets. Police have no idea who's taking them, but they believe this is more than a prank. The thieves are stealing them for cash. "I thought I ran into a pothole, but now my car's been pulling to the right, like it needs to be realigned, so maybe that was it," said Oak Lawn resident Katie Livaich. Police say most have been snatched at night and likely taken to recyclers, who buy whatever comes their way. "I'd site the money and the fact that metal is going at an all-time high right now," said Oak Lawn Police Department Division Chief Michael Kaufmann. "We're seeing that in some other areas with aluminum theft from gutters to, now, manhole covers." It's getting so bad Kaufmann believes thieves even stole the guard rail off a Bishop Ford feeder ramp to make some money. But the thefts are not only a nuisance; they're dangerous, too. "There's a lot of young kids on this block and I wouldn't want them falling into this hole," said Oak Lawn resident Terry Reilly. But police say kids aren't the only ones who could be hurt by a missing manhole cover. An adult not paying attention, perhaps, could be harmed too. "If it's been in a the ground for a while you're probably going to need a tool to actually lift it out, but it's possible to stick your hands in those different grate openings and actually lift it up, but it would take somebody with some strength to do that," Kaufmann said. Kaufmann said each manhole cover costs about $150, but it costs about $240 to replace, with labor costs. So far the suburb is out several thousand dollars of taxpayer money.





http://cbs2chicago.com/local/manhole.cover.thefts.2.690023.html

I find it kind of weird that people are actually stealing these. I get it's for money, but who would actually pay for it, and what do they do with it? It's pretty sad how people steal just about anything now.

Slain Student Apparently Dialed 911; Help Not Sent

Police: Slain student apparently dialed 911; help not sent
By RYAN J. FOLEY Associated Press Writer
5:51 AM CDT, May 2, 2008
MADISON, Wis. - A college student apparently called 911 from her cell phone shortly before she was killed but a dispatcher hung up, failed to call back and never sent police to investigate, authorities said Thursday.Madison Police Chief Noble Wray said it was too early to know whether a better response could have prevented the April 2 slaying of Wisconsin-Madison student Brittany Zimmermann or helped police capture her killer.Authorities refused to release the content of the phone call, but Wray said it should have been enough for the Dane County 911 Center to take it seriously."It would be accurate to state that there is evidence contained in the call, which should have resulted in a Madison police officer being dispatched," Wray said at a news conference. "The 911 center did not call back to the telephone number, Madison police were not notified and no officer was sent."
Zimmermann, 21, was found slain in her apartment in an apparently random crime. Police believe someone broke into her apartment before killing her. They have not identified a suspect but have ruled out her fiance, who found her body in the apartment they shared.Dane County Public Safety Communications Director Joseph Norwick said the dispatcher who received the call from Zimmermann's cell phone inquired several times to determine whether an emergency existed. The dispatcher hung up after receiving no answer and then answered another 911 call that was waiting, he said.The dispatcher failed to call the number back as required under the department's policy, Norwick said.Norwick said he was investigating the incident and reviewing whether policies should be changed and employees should be disciplined. But he also said, "I don't think there's anything to apologize for at this time."


I think that the 911 dispatcher should have at least sent police to check on the incident, it might have prevented this girl from being killed.