<p>Laptops do get stolen at the Reg. And at Hutch. These are student thieves. (A student was caught last year for something similar).</p>
<p>Just be cautious... things stink sometimes. Back up your files to gmail or to the U of C's online storage site! (I forget the exact address right now).</p>
<p>Solution: strap a gat</p>
<p>The University sent out the following email today concerning the arrests made in connection with the recent crime spree:</p>
<p>To: University Community
From: Rudolph Nimocks, Chief University Police Department
Subject: Two arrests in connection with Amadou Cisse murder, other incidents</p>
<p>I would like to let you know the Chicago Police Department announced an
arrest Wednesday related to the Nov. 19 attempted robbery and fatal
shooting of our graduate student, Amadou Cisse. Eric Walker, 16, was
charged as an adult with first-degree murder and one count of attempted
armed robbery with a firearm in connection with Cisse's death in an
incident that occurred at 1:26 a.m. at 6120 S. Ellis Avenue.</p>
<p>He was also charged with two counts of armed robbery with a firearm in
connection with the robbery of two women at 924 E. 57th St. at 1:15 a.m.
that morning by an individual who said he had a weapon. A third
incident, for which he was also charged with one count of armed robbery
with a firearm, occurred in connection with the robbery of a man in the
5300 block of S. Greenwood Avenue at about 1 a.m. that day.</p>
<p>This morning, a second person was charged in connection with related
incidents on Nov. 19. Demetrius Warren, 17, was charged with two counts
of armed robbery for the robbery of the two women on 57th St., and one
count of armed robbery in connection with the robbery of the man on S.
Greenwood Avenue. Additionally, Warren was charged with aggravated
discharge of a weapon in connection with a fourth incident that morning
at 12:33 a.m. at 6045 Woodlawn Avenue, in which a man was chased by an
individual who fired a shot in his direction.</p>
<p>We thank the officers and detectives of the Chicago Police Department
for their exceptional cooperation and assistance leading to these
arrests. They were able to find a car fitting the description given by
two robbery victims and which had been recorded on Medical Center
cameras. University Police and Medical Center staff were able to locate
this vehicle on Medical Center cameras that are deployed in the area of
the robbery of the two students. This information, along with diligent
work on the part of the Chicago Police Department, as well as the work
of our own campus police offices led to these arrests. We are grateful
to all involved.</p>
<p>Amadou Cisse was an exceptional young man, with much to contribute, and
we are deeply saddened by his death.</p>
<p>We are also saddened for the other young persons involved in this case.
We see too much violence against young people, in many cases committed
by other young people. We must all think about ways to confront the
causes of crime in addition to being diligent in our efforts to arrest
the offenders and make our community as safe as possible.</p>
<p>Although this arrest has been made, we must not ignore our need to pay
attention to our own safety. The University police are increasing
patrols during the evening and nighttime hours. We have opened a new
police substation at 61st and Drexel. But the job of safety also falls
on all of us. We need to pay attention to our surroundings, to use
caution when we go out, and also take advantage of the many protective
services provided by the University.</p>
<p>Data about crimes on and around campus and within our neighborhood are
available at Common</a> Sense and
chicagocrime.org:</a> Chicago crime database. We will continue to post information about
our safety efforts and information about safety resources to our web
page at University</a> of Chicago News Office | Campus message from President Zimmer about shooting on S. Ellis.</p>
<p>the awesome thing about our legal system is that if he had shot some random neighborhood resident and not a student he would be getting a manslaughter charge</p>
<p>(and if he had been lindsay lohan he could have driven under the influence on a suspended license with cocaine on him and done a single day in jail, ha)</p>
<p>excuse me, jack, but what are you talking about? The crime which occurred here was not manslaughter by any legal definition, no matter who the victim was. Now, that's not to say that a murder charge couldn't be plea bargained down to manslaughter, but that would probably only happen if there was a weakness in the prosecution case. By the way, I am a former prosecutor in a large city. And let's try to stay on point here.</p>
<p>I thought first-degree murder implies premeditation, which I don't think anybody could reasonably argue was involved in the killing. Aren't people who botch robberies and end up killing their victims routinely charged with manslaughter? </p>
<p>I don't have any experience with legal code, so my opinions don't mean much against those of somebody who does. But I do know that charging a 16-year-old as an adult is ridiculous, and I do know that the statistics overwhelmingly indicate that throwing him in prison for the next 25 years will do nothing but make him even worse of a criminal. </p>
<p>What happened was absolutely murder, and absolutely horrible, and I am still upset about it. But it's no excuse for being incredibly vindictive towards some poor dumb kid who was trying to be a badass thug and took it too far, and then wondering why the south side is so unsafe in the first place.</p>
<p>"some poor dumb kid who was trying to be a badass thug and took it too far" HAPPENED TO HAVE A GUN ! Doesn't that suggest he planned on the possibility of USING IT? Or did the gun just manage to find it's way into his jacket by itself? Sheesh!</p>
<p>jack,
First degree murder does not always "require" premeditation. If a person is killed during the course of the commission of another crime, such as robbery or arson, they may be charged with first degree murder, even if they did not "plan" for that to happen. It is clear that these two young men set out to get money by robbing a number of people that evening. They had a loaded gun. 16 year olds can certainly be expected to understand the consequences of their actions. Over the past 20 years or so, more and more states have lowered the age for which people can be charged as adults and held to serve "adult time." "Incredibly vindictive?" If they are convicted, should they be sent to a juvenile lockup and released when they turn 21? Have you read the stories about the young man who was killed? They snuffed out a life which might well have made a major difference in his home country. For what? So they could get some cash to buy a pair of jeans? Some electronics?</p>
<p>Wouldn't it be felony murder since the murder was committed while in the commission of a felony (armed robbery)?</p>
<p>I saw the article in the Trib today and am glad that the investigation is bearing fruit. I wish our law enforcement folks had the resources to pursue all cases as vigorously as they merit.</p>
<p>If anybody's interested in donating to the family support fund, you can make out a check:</p>
<p>Amadou Cisse Family Support Fund, c/o University of Chicago Bursar, 5801 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637.</p>
<p>I don't know if that's of interest to any current students or parents.</p>
<p>Unalove,
thanks for posting ^^</p>
<p>Jack,
regardless of what the charge would have been, the alleged perps might never have been caught at all if they hadn't picked the wrong individual to attack, and it the victims of the non-lethal attacks hadn't been willing to participate in the investigation. When I saw the car photograph posted I was pretty sure they would find the killers, and that the law would come down on them like a ton of bricks. IMO, the worse unfairness is to those victims of crime that don't have the support an institution behind them. </p>
<p>Speaking as a parent ... I feel horrible for Amalou's mother and family, as well as for the families of the young people that did the crimes. As the UChicago police chief said, "We are also saddened for the other young persons involved in this case. "</p>