Teens Indicted in Connection to Fatal Shooting in Heights Park
Five teens have been charged with several felonies, including mob action and armed violence, related to an incident where another teen was fatally shot in a Chicago Heights park.
Five teenagers will be arraigned later this month on various charges after a Chicago teen was shot and killed in a Chicago Heights park, a spokesman with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office confirmed Wednesday, Dec. 5.
Mikah Darko, 17, was shot near 15th and Hanover streets and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. Witnesses told police Darko was in the park when two men approached him and started shooting.
The grand jury handed down an indictment for the five defendants on Friday, Nov. 30 in a Markham courtoom. The accused include:
- Rhonzell F. Ard, 17, of Chicago Heights, in custody on $2 million bond
- Joshua A. Dean, 19, of Chicago in custody
- Derrell J. Edwards, 18, of Chicago in custody on $500,000 bond ; charged with armed violence, possession of a firearm by a gang member, six counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and mob action.
- Cortez Hurst, 18, of Chicago Heights in custody on $2 million bond; charged with armed violence, delivery of concealed firearm to a minor, theft, three counts of unlawful use of a weapon and mob action.
- Otis Pruitt, 19, of Chicago in custody on $200,000 bond and mob action.
All five are scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 18 in Markham.
Michael Wright
5:59 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
The newspapers should also publish photos of the parents or baby mamas and baby daddies of these poor excuses for life right next to their mug shots. Let us start calling out the parental failures of these young boys because they are obviously not men and we must put a public face on these miscreants who keep having babies that turn into thugs. My great grandfather went to his grave having struggled to live with dignity and provide for his family in the Jim Crow South. I will aim to bet that these criminals don't even know their own ancestral history and it is a true shame to think for all the suffering my ancestors had to endure that this generation let it all unravel in the past 20 years. Catching and convicting them is one part to solving the problem. I firmly believe that the second part to solving the problem is to demand mandatory public shaming on their parents, as well. If, by forcing their parents to also take responsiblity, then perhaps we can truly begin to put an end to all of this senseless self hate and murder. You can be damned sure that if I or my siblings shamed my parents in any way, they would have taken us out. My father used to say, "Walk the straight and narrow with your head held high. I certainly did NOT bring you into this world to watch you become an idiot. I will make you wish you were never born before you shame our family!" Make these criminals all wear a public letter "S" for shame and may their parents be shamed into responsibility.
Charles
6:08 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012
I TOTALLY AGREE!!! IF MORE PARENTS TOOK AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THEIR KIDS' ACTIVITIES; SH*T LIKE THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN.
John62Boy
11:01 pm on Sunday, December 30, 2012
To: Michael Stupid Wright, You have no ideal who those boys are. Also, you do not know them well or not at all personally to call any of them ignorant. There are two out of the five that i know graduated from high school and one was attending College (Kenndy King). Further more, you definitely got to be ignorant to think or suggest that the Parents, Babies Moma's and Dad's of the accused pictures should be posted along with their mug shot's. You, also want the blame to be placed on the parents as if their parenting some how was the blame or at least failed them. The (Law) see's them as adult's first off and due to the law's changing. Once upon a time at eighteen you were able to purchase a pack of cigarettes and you are still able today to marry at that age without a parents consent. I must catch myself before i get further caught up in (Micheal Stupid Wright) crazy delusions. I do know some of the boys, at least three of this boys that stand accused. If we should pray for anybody less pray for Micheal Wrights sanity!!
Heather
10:34 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
What an absolutely moronic comment.
Michael Wright
12:51 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Please state your case. What is so moronic about making the parents of these horrific boys be held accountable? They are not even of legal age. If they had hosted a house party and served alcohol to underage attendees and were caught by the law, the parents would be arrested. That is the law. So Miss Heather, I ask you again: What is moronic? And quite frankly, as a middle-aged, law-abiding African American male, I am offended by your flippant off-hand remark. I AM SICK AND TIRED OF ANY CRIME COMMITTED BY YOUNG BLACK MALES, ESPECIALLY BLACK-ON-BLACK. SO WHEN AND HOW DOES IT END?
Charles
6:09 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012
The only moron here is you. Apparently, you are probably mother to a street thug, or have a street thug as a baby daddy.
James Bond
8:12 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Just dont stop, the cycle continues. Now more taxpayer money to feed, clothed and house these animals.
Dee
12:39 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Cortez Hurst looks like the guy who robbed the TCF in the Homewood Jewel recently.
Alex
2:38 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
When was this shooting I live near by and this is really messed up
ressepuff
1:22 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
ALL YALL LEAVING THESE GOOFY ASS COMMENTS AND THIS AINT GOT SHIT TO DO WITHYALL...THATS HOW PEOPLE GET KILLED NOW MINDING OTHER PEOPLED BUSINESS..HOW BOUT YALL ALL STFU AND LET THE PARENTS OF THESE CHILDREN DEAL WITH IT THEMSELVES
Michael Wright
9:47 am on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Dear Lord in Heaven at Christmastime, I pray you learn how to type correctly, spell correclty, speak correctly and use the English language correctly. We have multiple generations of young people who are ignorant, uneducated and jobless. They are also directionless. Just like these boys, who chose an unproductive and damning future. I blame the parents who keep bringing "YALL" into the world and expect everyone but themselves to raise, feed, clothe and educate "YALL" and I blame their offspring who refuse to realize receiving a proper education is the key that opens the lock that binds the chains of ignorance. Which is ultimately what these boys are, except NOW they are ignorant, uneducated, jobless AND IN JAIL CHARGED WITH MURDER. I will say a prayer in Jesus' name that you are delivered from all of the above. Use proper English, grammar and spelling to state your opinion and convey your thoughts. There is no excuse for defiant ignorance. Thank You.
Jaegermeister269
12:03 pm on Saturday, December 15, 2012
if there are people shooting people on public places, It has to do with everyone, resse,,,, how many kids are killed with stray bullets due to gang crime?