Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,921 posts)
Sun Nov 14, 2021, 10:16 AM Nov 2021

U of C graduate 'minding his own business,' tried to escape and struggled with suspect before ...

Breaking News | News

U of C graduate ‘minding his own business,’ tried to escape and struggled with suspect before being fatally shot, prosecutors said

By DEANESE WILLIAMS-HARRIS
CHICAGO TRIBUNE | NOV 13, 2021 AT 4:38 PM

A Chicago man was denied bail Saturday in the slaying of Shaoxiong “Dennis” Zheng, a recent University of Chicago graduate who was fatally shot Tuesday. ... Alton Spann, 19, of the 6500 block of South Maryland Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, police said earlier. ... Saturday afternoon, Cook County Judge Barbara Dawkins ordered Spann held without bail during a hearing broadcast live on Youtube after prosecutors detailed Zheng’s last moments.

On Nov. 9, at about 1:50 p.m., Zheng was walking home from campus “minding his own business,” in the 900 block of East 54th Place when he was confronted by Spann, who arrived in a stolen Ford Mustang, Asst. State’s Atty. Ashley Romito said in court. ... That Mustang was reported stolen from Markham on Nov. 3, according to police. It was tracked by POD cameras, license plate readers, and private video surveillance cameras.

Zheng, who was carrying a bag, later determined to be holding a laptop computer, refused to give up his belongings when Spann, who grabbed the “larger of two guns,” demanded them, said Romito. ... “The victim struggled with the offender and tried to escape,” Romito said. ... Witnesses peering out of windows near the scene saw Zheng fall to the ground as Spann stood over him, pointing a gun.

One of those witnesses happened to be a doctor who tried to save Zheng’s life. ... Zheng died of a gunshot wound to the arm, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office, which said Zheng was pronounced dead less than an hour after the shooting, at 2:13 p.m. at the University of Chicago Medical Center. His death was ruled a homicide.

{snip}

Zheng graduated from the university with a master’s degree in statistics this year after attending the University of Hong Kong for his undergraduate education, according to his LinkedIn page.

Spann is due back in court on Nov. 19.

Deanese Williams-Harris
Chicago Tribune
CONTACT DAWilliams@chicagotribune.com

Deanese "Neacy" Williams-Harris was hired in 2007, and now works on the Crime & Justice desk. She is an alumna of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and the University of Illinois at Springfield, but her greatest accomplishment is her two sons, Mustafa and Niall. She also is a 16-year survivor of multiple sclerosis.
1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
U of C graduate 'minding his own business,' tried to escape and struggled with suspect before ... (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Nov 2021 OP
Died Of An Arm Wound! ProfessorGAC Nov 2021 #1
Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Illinois»U of C graduate 'minding ...