COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A man on parole for being an armed habitual criminal executed four people and seriously wounded another following a drug deal, robbery and shooting in Roseland in December, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Lionel "Froggy" Parks, 29, has prior convictions for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, robbery and being an armed habitual criminal, Assistant State's Attorney Ed Murillo said during a bond hearing Wednesday.
Parks was free on parole and being monitored with an electronic bracelet by the Illinois Department of Corrections when he reportedly opened fire in the 100 block of West 105th Street on Dec. 17.
One of the deceased victims was pregnant at the time, Murillo said.
Parks had been at the Roseland home several times Dec. 17 to buy and smoke marijuana, according to prosecutors. He first visited the residence to discuss a purchase with victim Elijah Jackson, Murillo said, and later returned with a friend to buy the drug and smoke some inside the house.
Jackson, 36, was spending the day at home with several relatives, including two out-of-town guests, and introduced Parks to his family as "Froggy," prosecutors said. A surviving victim would later place "Froggy" at the scene of the crime.
Parks soon returned to the house a third time — this time armed and accompanied by an armed friend, Murillo said. The men kicked down the door and ordered Jackson and his relatives to the floor.
A survivor later told police Jackson said, "Froggy, don't do this to me! Don't hurt my family! You don't have to do this, Froggy," according to Murillo. The survivor said Jackson pleaded with Parks to steal items and spare his family.
But Parks and his accomplice would eventually shoot each victim in the head after demanding drugs and guns, and forcing the family to disrobe and turn over cellphones, money and jewelry, prosecutors said.
Jackson and three others died from their wounds: Scott Thompson, 46; Nateyah Hines, 19; and Shacora Jackson, 41, who was pregnant at the time.
An 18-year-old woman who was shot in her head, hand and thigh survived, prosecutors said. She currently lives at a rehabilitation center, where she relies on a ventilator and feeding tube. She is not responsive to light or sounds, Murillo said.
A 22-year-old man who witnessed the day's events avoided being shot by lying on the ground and pretending he was dead, prosecutors said.
As soon as Parks and the accomplice left, the 22-year-old man climbed out a window, dressed in only socks and shorts, and ran toward neighbors, who were able to call 911, according to prosecutors.
At the time of the shooting, Parks was paroled to a house a few blocks away in the 10700 block of South La Salle Street, prosecutors said. Records from the Illinois Department of Corrections show that Parks left his home without permission four times on the day of the murder.
Cellphone records place Parks at Elijah Jackson's home and show that the two men communicated Dec. 17, Murillo said.
Parks was seen on surveillance footage leaving his home shortly before the murders and returning shortly after carrying a large dark bag, prosecutors said. Bullets found in his home were a match to those found at the scene.
Additionally, Murillo said, Parks is accused of telling a witness he planed to commit a robbery that day.
Parks is now charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.
"This is a case where four people were literally executed and an attempt was made to execute two others," Cook County Judge James Brown said before denying Parks bail Wednesday. "No order other than 'no bail'" will keep the public safe.
