Stories by matt masterson

(U.S. Attorney's Office)

2 Brothers Charged in $1M Suburban Bank Truck Robbery on Halloween

Corrie Singleton, 21, and Darrell Singleton, 18, both of South Holland, Illinois, have been charged in federal court in Chicago with robbery, bank larceny by assault and other firearm offenses.

(WTTW News)

Ex-CTA Clerk Charged With Stealing $350K From Retirement Fund

Ayanna Nesbitt, 50, of Chicago, was indicted last week in federal court on five counts of wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Monday, after she allegedly stole money that was intended to be provided to CTA retirees or their beneficiaries.

(WTTW News)

4 People Killed in Pair of Shootings Over Weekend in Chicago: Police

According to Chicago Police Department data, at least 17 people were shot in 13 separate shooting incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday. That included a pair of double homicides.

Chicago City Hall. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

City Hall Closed as Chicago Police, Emergency Responders Hold Active Shooter Drill

Chicago police and firefighters swarmed City Hall for several hours Friday during a training that aimed to “enhance preparedness and strengthen capabilities” across city departments “during and following an active threat or terrorism.”

(WTTW News)

Chicago Man Charged With Shoving 28-Year-Old Man Onto Blue Line Tracks, Headbutting Officer

Cory Patterson, 33, has been arrested and charged with attempted murder, four counts of aggravated battery to a peace officer and one count of misdemeanor battery. A Cook County judge issued him a $2 million D-bond Thursday, meaning he must pay $200,000 to be released from jail.

James McNamara, 61, of Chicago, allegedly swung at police and used a bike rack to ram doors during the riot at the U.S. Capitol. (U.S. Attorney's Office)

Chicago Man, Dubbed ‘#RailMixer’ Online, Charged in Connection to Jan. 6 Capitol Riot

James McNamara, 61, was charged in federal court in Washington D.C. this week with felony counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers and interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder, as well as five other misdemeanor charges.

(WTTW News)

Chicago Tops 630 Homicides, 2,600 Shootings in 2022: Police

Through the end of November, 3,258 people have been shot in the city, according to monthly crime stats from the Chicago Police Department. Of those victims, 637 people were killed.

(WTTW News)

Ex-Employee of Cook County Land Bank Authority Charged in Wire Fraud Scheme to Buy, Sell Properties

Mustafaa Saleh, 36, was charged through a criminal information in federal court in Chicago on Tuesday with a single count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

A file photo shows a crime scene blocked off by the Chicago Police Department. (WTTW News)

2 Chicago Men Charged in Fatal Shooting of Girl Killed on 12th Birthday

Cook County prosecutors alleged Malik Parish, 22, Abdul Ali, 20, and a third unknown man were firing shots at rival gang members on the evening of March 1 when an errant bullet struck Nyzireya Moore as she sat inside her mother’s vehicle.

(WTTW News)

6 Killed in Separate Shootings Over Weekend in Chicago: Police

According to Chicago Police Department data, 31 people were shot in 24 separate incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday, including two dead and two others injured at a far South Side gathering early Saturday.

(WTTW News)

Chicago Teen Charged After Fatal Crash With Vehicle That Was Trying to Flee Police: Prosecutors

Kendall Sprouts, 18, was charged Wednesday with reckless homicide involving a motor vehicle and aggravated reckless driving following the Sunday evening crash that left 22-year-old Keyshawn Javon Gray dead.

Chicago police officers respond to Ariel Roman, who is seated on the ground moments after he was shot inside the Grand Red Line station on Feb. 28, 2020. (Civilian Office of Police Accountability)

Chicago Police Officer Found Not Guilty in 2020 Shooting at Red Line Station

According to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, Cook County Judge Joseph Claps issued the verdict Tuesday in the bench trial of Officer Melvina Bogard, who was charged last year with the nonfatal shooting of Ariel Roman inside the Grand Red Line station.

(WTTW News)

15-Year-Old Girl Among 3 People Fatally Shot Over Weekend in Chicago: Police

According to Chicago police, 20 people were shot in 15 separate shooting incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

Students at Chicago Public Schools walk along a hallway in this file photo. (WTTW News)

Illinois Education Superintendent Carmen Ayala to Retire

State Superintendent of Education Carmen Ayala, appointed in 2019, announced that she’ll retire at the end of January.

(WTTW News)

Former DePaul Student Sentenced to More Than 7 Years For Attempting to Aid ISIS Terror Group

Thomas Osadzinski, 23, was convicted following a two-week trial of attempting to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization. On Thursday, a federal judge in Chicago sentenced him to 90 months in prison.

In this Sept. 17, 2019, file photo, R. Kelly appears during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool, File)

R. Kelly Asks Judge to Toss Federal Child Pornography Convictions or Grant New Trial

Kelly’s attorneys on Tuesday filed the routine post-conviction motions asking a judge to either toss out the singer’s six convictions or grant him another trial, arguing prosecutors failed to prove their case and allowed a witness to provide false testimony.

A file photo shows a crime scene blocked off by the Chicago Police Department. (WTTW News)

Reputed Wicked Town Gang Leader Convicted on Federal Racketeering Charges

Donald Lee, 40, and 30-year-old Torance Benson were each found guilty Tuesday following a two-month trial in Chicago’s federal court building after prosecutors said they each participated in a criminal organization that murdered rivals and violently protected a drug-dealing operation on the city’s West Side.

This file photo shows a southbound CTA Red Line train in Chicago. (WTTW News)

Police, CTA Officials Offer Riders Safety Tips Ahead of Holiday Shopping Season

Safety tips offered by the CPD include: being aware of your surroundings, securing wallets and phones in zipped pockets, keeping shopping bags close to you and keeping headphone volume low enough to hear what’s happening nearby.

(WTTW News)

Man Charged in Fatal Shooting of Stepfather at Bronzeville Home

Kenneth Haywood, 30, was ordered held on a $400,000 D-bond during a hearing Monday following his arrest over the weekend in the killing of 56-year-old Shenan Thompson.

(WTTW News)

6 People Killed in Separate Shootings Over Weekend in Chicago: Police

According to Chicago Police Department data, 28 people were shot in 26 separate shootings between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

(Randy von Liski / Flickr)

Democrats Rochford, O’Brien Declare Victory in Illinois Supreme Court Races

If the results hold, the court would shift to a 5-to-2 Democrat majority.

Democratic Lake County Judge Elizabeth “Liz” Rochford has declared victory in her race for the 2nd District seat on the Illinois Supreme Court, a result that would mean Democrats would maintain control of the state’s highest court.

(WTTW News)

Early Results Show Illinois Voters Appear in Favor of Workers’ Rights Constitutional Amendment Decision

If passed, the impact of the so-called “Workers Rights Amendment” would be twofold: The change would codify Illinois workers’ right to organize and bargain collectively, while simultaneously prohibiting any law from being passed that would interfere with those rights.

A file photo shows a crime scene blocked off by the Chicago Police Department. (WTTW News)

Off-Duty Chicago Police Officer Involved in Shooting in Belmont Cragin

Chicago police say it’s unclear if anyone was struck after an off-duty officer was involved in a shooting in Belmont Cragin on Wednesday morning.

A file photo shows a crime scene blocked off by the Chicago Police Department. (WTTW News)

5 People Killed, Nearly 30 Others Wounded in Weekend Shootings Across Chicago: Police

Those killed in separate shootings over the weekend included a 15-year-old boy shot in a drive-by shooting and a 30-year-old man killed outside a River North club.

(WTTW News)

Lincolnwood Restaurant Owner Charged With Strangling Mother of His Unborn Baby to Death

Yaer Shen, 46, was denied bail during a court hearing Thursday following his arrest on charges of first-degree murder, intentional homicide of an unborn child and concealing a homicidal death stemming from the killing of 40-year-old Bilian Fang, who was eight months pregnant with Shen’s child, prosecutors said.

State Sen. Darren Baily, the GOP nominee for governor, speaks at the Illinois State Fair on Aug. 18, 2022. (WTTW News)

Chicago Man Charged With Making Graphic Death Threat to Candidate for Governor Darren Bailey

Scott Lennox bragged to friends about sending the message, according to Cook County prosecutors, which led to Darren Bailey requesting additional security for himself and his family and to a soft lockdown at the school Bailey runs with his wife.