a After much commotion about the execution style of murder of 9-year old Tyshawn Lee Chicago Police have charged Corey Morgan, 27, with first degree murder officials announced during a news conference Friday. A judge denied bail for Morgan on Friday.
According to Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said investigators say “at least” three people were involved with the incident. An arrest warrant has been issued for Kevin Edwards and police are looking for a third “unknown” individual, police said late Friday.
Investigators had been questioning Morgan in the case. He was arrested on an unrelated gun charge however was released on bail earlier this week. Morgan is a known documented gang member and convicted felon.
Earlier this month, November 2 , it is alleged that Tyshawn was lured into an alley near West 80th Street and South Damen Avenue and there executed, according to police. He was shot in the head and suffered several graze wounds.
Tyshawn’s family said he loved to play basketball and video games. A basketball was found in the alley near his body.
Authorities said the child was executed in retaliation for his father’s gang ties in an ongoing fight between rival gangs. Pierre Stokes, Tyshawn’s father, has denied those allegations.
McCarthy said the men’s precise roles were still under investigation but that all were members of the same gang, which the police chief vowed to destroy: “That gang just signed its own death warrant,” he said.
During a time when his performance has come under much scrutiny McCarthy praised local residents, saying they overcame fears and risks of retaliation to come forward and offer tips to police.
“If you have a monster who’s willing to assassinate a 9-year-old, what is that person likely to do if they know that somebody’s cooperating with the case?” McCarthy said during a news conference.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel presented a written statement Friday afternoon, “I would like to commend Superintendent Garry McCarthy, the leadership of the Chicago Police Department, and the men and women of the police force for identifying the individuals believed to have targeted and killed nine-year-old Tyshawn Lee. All of Chicago grieves for this young life taken far too soon, and we must ensure that justice is served.”
It is believed that a dispute that led up to the Tyshawn’s murder had been ongoing for approximately three months between warring gangs involved at least two other killings and several non-fatal shootings. Authorities said Morgan was a convicted felon with an extensive violent criminal history, but didn’t provide details.
The law firm representing Morgan did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment on the case.
Although detectives have not recovered the murder weapon, they believe only one person fired because all the spent bullet casings were from a single gun, according to McCarthy.