Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Man Charged in Fatal Shooting on Safe Passage Route Talked to Priest

By Emily Morris | August 14, 2013 7:30am | Updated on August 14, 2013 10:29am
 Lamont Grant went to pastor Corey Brooks before turning himself in to police, according to Brooks.
Lamont Grant
View Full Caption

CHICAGO — A man charged in a Saturday shooting that killed a man and injured another along a Safe Passage route on the South Side went to pastor Corey Brooks before turning himself in, Brooks said.

Lamont Grant, 34, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with discharge of a firearm, police said.

Police said he was identified as the man who shot two people in the 2900 block of South State Street, the same block where Grant lives, on Saturday about 6:15 p.m.

Ralph Mcneal, 54, was pronounced dead after the shooting at 7:10 p.m. at Stroger Hospital. A 26-year-old man suffered a graze wound, authorities said.

Mcneal, nicknamed "Cubby," was described by family as a man who loved to dance and make his friends laugh.

Brooks, of the New Beginnings Church at 6620 S. King Drive, said Grant's family, some of whom are members of the church, called him Tuesday night and told him Grant wanted to turn himself in.

"He wanted make sure he turned himself in, in a faith way," Brooks said.

Brooks, who said he didn't know Grant until Tuesday night, posted a photo of the two of them on Twitter along with a tweet that said, "Turning a brother into the police for shooting and killing two people we just prayed I gave him the plan of salvation he accepted."

Grant and Brooks first met at a "neutral" place according to Brooks. "He was real distraught about the situation," Brooks said.

"We talked about forgiveness. We talked about repentance. We talked about making mistakes" as well as "dealing with consequences," Brooks said.

A day before the shooting, Chicago Public Schools had designated the Douglas block to be part of a Safe Passage route to escort kids to Drake Elementary School.

Grant is scheduled to appear in bond court on Wednesday.