<p>ABC7Chicago.com:</a> Univ. of Chicago student shot to death</p>
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A graduate student at the University of Chicago has been shot and killed near his off-campus apartment. There were also two other violent crimes near the Hyde Park campus Sunday night.
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<p>This is very sad.</p>
<p>I notice that it took place south of the midway. When I was at the U of C several decades ago, we avoided going there at all costs--even during the day--and the university police didn't patrol there. I have the impression that grad students have been gradually pushed farther and farther away from the campus into more and more dangerous areas by rising rental prices.</p>
<p>If anyone is looking for official info from the University, this tragedy has been discussed on the U.Chicago board since yesterday. My S is a graduate student there and does live in graduate student housing south of the campus, not far from where this shooting took place. Everything I hear indicates that this is a very, very unusual incident, but there is no question that it in inadvisable to venture more than a few blocks south of the Midway. This student was still in what is considered to be a "safe" area, but it was 1:30 in the morning and he was apparently by himself. This is a terrible tragedy for his family.</p>
<p>The armed robbery reported in the same article was at 921 East 57th Street, which is not south of the campus, but just north of the campus and UChicago hospital.</p>
<p>It wasn't a good week.</p>
<p>I wanted to provide an update on this tragedy, in the form of an email sent from the University today.
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>We got the same email and were a bit shocked. Actually, I wasn't as surprised by the one at 62nd and Ellis - that is not a terrific area - but the 57th St. one was surprising. It's a "safe" street with lots of businesses and university buildings.</p>
<p>We used to live in the area - 57th and Drexel, and then 55th and Blackstone. We felt relatively safe (understanding we were living in the middle of a big city), and we have two kids. However, that last year, our car was broken into twice in the parking lot, and a person threw a brick at our window (all random). Neighbors that lived there awhile noted that the neighborhood was changing a lot.</p>
<p>I still wouldn't hesitate to live there if I went to UChicago for PhD or a faculty position. And I still think people are pretty safe between 53rd and the Midway if they take normal precautions. But the recent reports still give pause.</p>
<p>Loss</a> here felt a world away -- chicagotribune.com Absolutely heartbreaking.</p>