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Englewood Family Reeling After 3 Relatives Shot Dead: 'I Don't Believe It'

By Joe Ward | May 12, 2016 7:52pm
 Relatives of Jerome Wright, Makeesha Starks and Kiara Hendricks grieve at Wright's home after the three people were shot and killed in a domestic incident in Englewood Wednesday.
Relatives of Jerome Wright, Makeesha Starks and Kiara Hendricks grieve at Wright's home after the three people were shot and killed in a domestic incident in Englewood Wednesday.
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DNAinfo/Joe Ward

ENGLEWOOD — Hours after three people were murdered in a domestic incident Wednesday, family and friends of those shot dead returned to the Englewood home where it happened to grieve and ask questions.

At 11:20 p.m. Wednesday, a gunman entered a home in the 1500 block of West 71st Street and shot dead a 50-year-old man and two 26-year-old women, police said.

The gunman then barricaded himself in a home in the 10300 block of South Union Avenue, where he caused an 11-hour standoff with police before fatally shooting himself Thursday afternoon.

The victims have been identified as Makeesha Starks, 26, Jerome Wright, 50, and Kiara Kinard, 26, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office and relatives.

Makeesha Starks [Facebook]

Wright is the stepdad of Makeesha Starks, and Kinard is the girlfriend of one of Makeesha's brothers, said Joe Starks, Makeesha's cousin. They were all inside the family's home on 71st Street Wednesday when Makeesha's ex-boyfriend came in with a gun.

The ex-boyfriend was angry at Makeesha, who was trying not to see him anymore, Joe Starks said. Police identified the shooter as 29-year-old Kevin Robinson. 

"She didn't want to be with him no more," the slain woman's cousin said of Robinson. "He was driving her truck, and she was trying to get it back."

What happened after the ex came into the house is unknown to the family, which descended on the home Thursday to be with each other after the tragedy. At least 20 family members and friends were at the house Thursday afternoon.

"I would be lying to you if I said we were OK," Joe Starks said. "We're just coping by being together."

The stand-off between police and the alleged killer lasted all day Thursday, but the victims' family wasn't paying attention. When told by a reporter that the gunman had apparently shot himself, Joe Starks ran into the house to tell Makeesha's mother.

The family knew the man accused of killing their relatives, and some even considered him a part of the family, Joe Starks said.

"I'm glad he killed himself, and I know him," he said. "This is crazy."

Makeesha's brother, who was distraught and did not give his name, said he wouldn't have closure until he knew for sure the person who killed his family was gone. 

"I don't believe it!" he said. "I want to see a body!"

Wright worked as a traffic control aide at the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communications, according to his Facebook page and department spokeswoman Melissa Stratton. 

Makeesha Starks and Kinard both worked at Rush Hospital, said John Pontarelli, a hospital spokesman. Makeesha was a food service worker and Kiara was in environmental services, he said.

"We're learning about it and communicating to the people involved," Pontarelli said. "The Rush community is deeply sorry about this tragic incident."

The family has never lost an immediate member to gun violence, Joe Starks said. Both women were dedicated mothers and loving family members, he said.

And even though Makeesha and her ex-boyfriend were arguing, they never imagined the situation resolving like this, he said.

"They didn't deserve this," he said.

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