Rantoul man charged in slaying of Elgin teen outside Lil Durk concert at United Center
A 19-year-old man is accused of fatally shooting Elgin teen Jesse Kendall last fall outside the United Center as he walked to a Lil Durk concert with his friends. Deron Wolfe, 19, was arrested Friday at his home in downstate Rantoul and charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery after he was identified as one of the attackers in the Oct. 20, 2024, shooting of Jesse Kendall in the 100 block of North Wolcott Avenue, according to the Cook County state's attorney's office. Kendall, 18, was walking to the concert with four of his friends when police say they were surrounded by Wolfe and three others wearing black clothes and ski masks. They pointed guns at Kendall's group and demanded their belongings. After Wolfe and the others took their belongings, Kendall began walking away. One person with Wolfe followed Kendall and began hitting him with his gun on the back of his head, prosecutors said Monday. Related First phase of United Center’s $7B redevelopment approved by Plan Commission 241 newly minted CPD officers sworn in: ‘Always remember why you’re here’ Kendall fell to the ground, and the person dropped his gun. Kendall picked up the gun, and at that point, the others ran toward Kendall's group and a struggle ensued between Kendall and the armed robbers. During the attack, Kendall's friends ran and knocked on doors of nearby homes looking for help. Someone let them into their home, and they called 911, prosecutors said. Kendall was found on the sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No weapons were found at the scene. Prosecutors revealed Monday that Wolfe was found near the scene with a gunshot wound to his stomach. He was taken to Stroger Hospital and told police he had been attacked. However, after searching him, officers found a pink vape in his pants pocket that matched one that had been taken from Kendall's girlfriend during the robbery — tying Wolfe to the scene outside the United Center. Testing later confirmed Kendall's girlfriend's DNA on it. Deron WolfeChicago Police A 15-year-old boy was also later dropped off at Stroger hospital with a gunshot wound to his hand. He told police he was hit by a stray bullet, but investigators found that the teen and Wolfe followed each other on social media and had shared photos wearing matching outfits. Prosecutors did not detail how Wolfe or the teen were shot.Two weeks after the shooting, Wolfe sent a message to an Instagram user asking where his gun was, prosecutors said. When questioned how he was shot and where he got the vape, his story continued to change. A judge ordered Wolfe detained during a hearing Monday. He was expected to appear in court Feb. 19.
A 19-year-old man is accused of fatally shooting Elgin teen Jesse Kendall last fall outside the United Center as he walked to a Lil Durk concert with his friends.
Deron Wolfe, 19, was arrested Friday at his home in downstate Rantoul and charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery after he was identified as one of the attackers in the Oct. 20, 2024, shooting of Jesse Kendall in the 100 block of North Wolcott Avenue, according to the Cook County state's attorney's office.
Kendall, 18, was walking to the concert with four of his friends when police say they were surrounded by Wolfe and three others wearing black clothes and ski masks. They pointed guns at Kendall's group and demanded their belongings.
After Wolfe and the others took their belongings, Kendall began walking away. One person with Wolfe followed Kendall and began hitting him with his gun on the back of his head, prosecutors said Monday.
Kendall fell to the ground, and the person dropped his gun. Kendall picked up the gun, and at that point, the others ran toward Kendall's group and a struggle ensued between Kendall and the armed robbers.
During the attack, Kendall's friends ran and knocked on doors of nearby homes looking for help. Someone let them into their home, and they called 911, prosecutors said.
Kendall was found on the sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No weapons were found at the scene.
Prosecutors revealed Monday that Wolfe was found near the scene with a gunshot wound to his stomach. He was taken to Stroger Hospital and told police he had been attacked.
However, after searching him, officers found a pink vape in his pants pocket that matched one that had been taken from Kendall's girlfriend during the robbery — tying Wolfe to the scene outside the United Center. Testing later confirmed Kendall's girlfriend's DNA on it.
A 15-year-old boy was also later dropped off at Stroger hospital with a gunshot wound to his hand. He told police he was hit by a stray bullet, but investigators found that the teen and Wolfe followed each other on social media and had shared photos wearing matching outfits.
Prosecutors did not detail how Wolfe or the teen were shot.
Two weeks after the shooting, Wolfe sent a message to an Instagram user asking where his gun was, prosecutors said. When questioned how he was shot and where he got the vape, his story continued to change.
A judge ordered Wolfe detained during a hearing Monday. He was expected to appear in court Feb. 19.
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