CHICAGO — Here's the full transcript from the press conference delivered by Chicago Police Supt. John Escalante, Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez and Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Eugene Roy.
CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT JOHN ESCALANTE:
With the full weight of the Chicago Police Department, Cook County and the FBI, this team stopped at nothing to bring justice to Tyshawn Lee, and we will continue to do the same for those who have been the victims of senseless gun violence and gang activity.
As you all know I've said before, Chicago's neighborhoods unfortunately are feeling the effects of gang violence, the availability of illegal guns and policies that are far too lenient on gun offenders. The murder of Tyshawn Lee, however, was something far more sinister. This was a targeted assassination by Dwright Doty, Kevin Edwards and Corey Morgan. These are calculated killers whose actions define the words brutality and cowardice.
Tyshawn was targeted and brutally killed in an alley because his father, Pierre Stokes, was a ranking member of a rival gang. His death was the culmination of gang violance that spiraled into a cycle of retaliatory violence fueled by illegal guns and absolutely zero regard for human life.
Tyshawn was an innocent child betrayed by these three men and sadly, he paid the ultimate price for gang violence — senseless gang violence — that plagued his neighborhood.
Members of law enforcement often witness situations that no one should in their lifetime, and this case stands out front and center. In nearly 30 years of policing I have never witnessed such a hateful act of treachery and savageness towards an innocent child whose life barely had a chance to flourish. While no conviction will ever bring back Tyshawn, we hope this development will bring some level of closure to his family and friends. State's Attorney Anita Alvarez will now outline some specifics of this case.
STATE'S ATTORNEY ANITA ALVAREZ:
Thank you Acting Supt. Escalante, and the Chicago Police Department, and all the law enforcement agencies represented here today, including the Cook County Sheriff's Department and the FBI.
As you know a second defendant has been charged with the murder of Tyshawn Lee. This defendant, Dwright Boone-Doty, also known as just Doty, has been charged with the murder of Brianna Jenkins and the attempted murder of Dashari Bowens. A short time ago my office proffered the following facts about this case, and I will read them to you now.
Brianna Jenkins and Tyshawn Lee's deaths are the result of a gang war between a faction of the Black P Stones and the Killa Ward faction of the Gangster Disciples. There has been a history between the two gangs for a long period of time, but it came to a head as the result of a shooting that occurred last fall on Oct. 13, 2015.
In that shooting, Tracy Morgan was shot and killed while he was in the car with his mother, who was also shot and wounded. Tracy Morgan is the brother of co-defendent Corey Morgan, who has also been charged with Tyshawn's murder.
Shortly after the shooting, Corey Morgan stated that since his brother was killed, and his mother had been shot, he was going to kill grandmas, mothers and children. Morgan, Doty and another uncharged co-defendant were all members of the Black P-Stones and they began going out daily — daily — armed with guns looking to retaliate.
At one point Doty set up a surveillance of Tyshawn's grandmother so he could kill her in order to draw out rival gang members. He also stated that his original plan was to torture this child by kidnapping and cutting off his fingers and his ears.
On Oct. 18, 2015, Brianna Jenkins and Deshari Bowens were seated in a car in the area of 78th and Honore. Believing that Bowens was a rival gang member, Doty is alleged to have walked up to the vehicle and fired multiple shots into the car, striking and killing Brianna, and also striking Deshari. Doty later stated that he didn't know who was in the car, but when he and an uncharged co-defendant drove by the car he saw dreadlocks on Deshari and believed he was a rival gang member.
Doty later stated that after killing Brianna and shooting Deshari, that he reloaded the gun and carried it around. He was later arrested by Chicago Police while in possession of multiple guns, and charged with possession of those guns. The guns were tested by the crime lab and one was found to be the murder weapon in the case of Brianna Jenkins and the shooting of Deshari Bowens.
On Nov. 2, 2015, Doty and the same two co-defendants were seeking further retaliation when they arrived at Dawes Park at 80th and Damen. They eventually saw 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee, who was in the playlot at the park. Tyshawn had gone to the swingset, set his basketball down, and was playing on the swings. Morgan and the third defendant left the playlot and drove away in an SUV, and Doty stayed behind in the play lot area.
Doty then picked up Tyshawn's basketball and began dribbling it a few times before giving it back to Tyshawn. He then asked the child if he wanted to go to the store. When Tyshawn said that he didn't have any money, Doty said he would buy him whatever he wanted. Tyshawn and Doty were then seen walking off together out of the park and into a nearby alley.
Once they reached the middle of the alley, Doty took out a gun and shot Tyshawn multiple times at close range. This defendant was facing the child when he shot him.
He later made statements that he'd, and I quote, "seen that bitch go in his head, and shorty, he was like he couldn't take it no more. Shorty couldn't take it no more."
This defendant also later stated that after he murdered Tyshawn he wanted to go back to the park and shoot it up, but unfortunately the police were already there, and he couldn't go back, and he should have, and he should have killed all the kids in the park.
Listen to the press conference:
After the murder the three defendants are alleged to have gone to a Walmart, where they purchased bleach and proceeded to wipe down the inside and outside of the vehicle before taking the vehicle to the location where they abandoned it. This defendant also stated that he had been working on a rap song which he talks about his killing of Tyshawn Lee.
As you know I have been a prosecutor here in Chicago for nearly 30 years and I have tried hundreds of cases involving senseless gang violence and gang-related homicides on the streets of Chicago that involve unspeakable acts of rage and violence. But I must tell you today: I don't think I have ever been so disgusted and appalled by such inhumanity.
This intentional murder of Tyshawn Lee is among the worst that I have ever seen in my almost 30 years as a prosecutor. When we have predators running around on our streets pledging to kill grandmas and mothers and children for nothing more than senseless gang retaliation, we have an unprecedented crisis on our hands.
Today's charges are a very important step in working to bring justice for this innocent little boy, and our investigation continues as we speak here today. So I want to thank again the Chicago Police Department for their tireless work on this investigation, as well as the Cook County Sheriff's Office, and the FBI. Thank you.
CHICAGO POLICE CHIEF OF DETECTIVES EUGENE ROY:
First of all I'd like to thank the state's attorney for her comments. What happened to Tyshawn is reprehensible and as we just heard from the State's Attorney, Mr. Doty was an engine of violence on a killing spree with absolutely no sense of humanity. He represents what is wrong with our criminal justice system: a convicted gun offender out on the streets to kill again. We can't keep letting this broken system tear our communities and families apart.
Our unwavering promise to the people of Chicago is that we will continue to hold gang members accountable time and time again. As both the superintendent and the state's attorney said, I sincerely hope that this provides some level of closure for Tyshawn's family.
I'd also like to take a moment to thank the joint investigative team in this case, who treated this investigation as if Tyshawn was a member of their own family. Specifically the state's attorney and her team of gang prosecutors who helped put the case together. I'd like to especially acknowledge the lead detectives on this case, Tim Murphy and Dan Stover, along with the other detectives from Area South detective division who worked tirelessly on this case.
There's also the Cook County Sheriff's Executive Director Dan Moreci and his staff, and the FBI, specifically Special Agent Tony Grubesic. Chicago Police detectives have partnered with sheriff's deputees and federal agents to send a clear message that we will not let gang activity tear apart families in Chicago.
Lastly I would also like to thank Fr. Michael Pfleger, who since the onset of this horrific crime has worked to build bridges between police and the affected community in order to bring Tyshawn's killers to justice.
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