* Julie A. Segraves Reports

Stories get edited before they are published. I argued for inclusion of the Ceasefire involvement but was shot down. Following is the article as written originally prior to Prothro's indictment .

Sorry this post will be so long:

Rogers Park has had its ups and downs in police efforts to combat crime, as has the rest of the city. Chicago Police Department statistics show their diligent efforts have succeeded as the 24th district ranks second of 25 police districts in achieving a decrease in violent crime in the first month of this year.

Tragically, on Feb 11 the death of 50 year old Wayne Jones sent a chill through the neighborhood and replaced a glowing statistic that normally would have generated relief, with a climate of fear.

On February 10, 2006 the Howard Area Community Center (HACC) held a party at their youth center at 1546 W. Morse Avenue for kids that participate in their programs.

To insure adequate supervision, the staff of the Rogers Park Ceasefire office, which is across the street, were asked to chaperone the party to augment the five or six Howard Area Community staff members present.

For added security the 24th District provided a beat car, which was parked outside for the duration of the party.

HACC is a neighborhood non-profit that runs several programs for the youth, adults and families in the area

Launched in 1967 by St. Jerome's Church to provide for the emergency needs of local residents, and initially run by unpaid volunteers, over time it has become an independent non-profit and expanded its mission to include case management by social workers, an alternative high school, a Head Start Center, a teen parent initiative, dental clinic, employment services and recently a Youth Center/Clubhouse on Morse Ave, and other youth and family support programs.

Vernandez Jones, of Ceasefire Chicago told me that he was working the door with Carolyn Read. As this was a closed party, open only to HACC program participants, Carolyn was at the door with him to identify their kids. Non program participants were turned away when they attempted to gain entry.

Ceasefire Chicago is part of the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention begun by the University of Illinois, School of Public Health. Launched in 1995, it currently serves 15 police districts in Chicago and 5 additional communities with the single goal of stopping shootings.

The party ended at 10:20 pm to ensure kids could get home before curfew.

By 10:35 pm all but a few kids who stayed to clean up with staff remained; Vernandez returned to his office across the street after having ensured that the streets were cleared of kids one block in either direction at the request of the police on the scene.

The assigned police car left after the streets were clear, and congratulated them on hosting a good event that completed without incident.

According to a Chicago Fire Department spokesman, at 10:47 pm the first 911 call was received of a battery in progress, several black or white men were beating someone, but the caller could not provide the age of the offenders.

The location was down the block from where the party had taken place steps from Mr. Jones’ residence.

Another call came in that someone was being beaten. Neither caller could say if there were weapons involved.

A third 911 caller said a man was down on the sidewalk. That man was Wayne Jones.

A spokesman for the Chicago Fire Department said an advanced life support ambulance responded. This is their typical response to any battery call.

The ambulance arrived 4.5 minutes after the first call and found Mr. Jones conscious, breathing and bleeding from the head. They did an initial assessment at the scene, ensured he was stable and at 11:22 pm transported Mr. Jones to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston having determined that he only needed basic life support services.

Basic life support is provided for victims with less severe injuries such as cuts, bumps, bruises and broken limbs.

When they left the hospital the paramedics indicated that Jones was in pretty good shape.

A Chicago Police spokesman said the hospitalization report filed by the police response car indicated a similar condition, but also noted that Mr. Jones had a history of seizures and could have fallen there.

Detectives were able to question Mr. Jones and he indicated that he had been beaten but didn’t remember much of the details.

Tragically, on February 11, he lost consciousness and died. He is survived by his wife.

The Cook County Medical Examiner and the Chicago Police Department commenced a death investigation.

While the Medical Examiner’s office conducted an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, the Area 3 Detectives began working to piece together the events leading up to what would turn out be the last walk of Mr. Jones’ life.

The detectives questioned the children who had been at the party, the Ceasefire workers, and the Howard Area Community staff members trying to find someone who had witnessed the event or who had seen anything or anyone in the area.

Carolyn Read, Director of the Youth Programs of the HACC told me “the kids cooperated fully with the police to show they have nothing to hide.”

On February 16 the Organization of the Northeast (ONE), a United Way agency that forms resource coalitions of organizations on the north lakefront, and Ceasefire sponsored a circle of prayer event in memory of Mr. Jones and to condemn the violence.

It was attended by neighbors, Alderman Moore, community leaders, and numerous children who participate in HACC programs. The children came to demonstrate that they condemn the violence.

Some residents were unimpressed by the children’s appearance, questioned their motivations and wondered what the HACC kids had to be sorry for if they didn’t do anything.

John Fitzgerald, Executive Director of HACC told me the reaction has “caused some concern. We are looking further into the situation and are trying to see how we can better present our programs to the community.”

Ironically, two weeks before this incident HACC had an open house at their Computer Clubhouse on Morse Avenue, which is “sponsored by INTEL and is one of only one hundred such programs in the world”, offering state of the art computer services for the kids served by HACC. “Invitations went out to all the news organizations as well as the community. We were disappointed that none of the broadcast news attended, yet were available to cover this story and then inaccurately report it.”

Fitzgerald said “Historically teenagers are not the most favorite members of the community, then our kids are minorities who are less desirable to those who want to gentrify … there are those who would like to see us … out. Age and race … can create real problems.”

This reaction from area residents worried Vernandez Jones because, “in order to be effective we need community support. Crime thrives when communities don’t get involved. ” Ceasefire works best when it can forge a strong bond with the community.

Kathi Mulligan, a thirty year resident said, “The answer to this terrible crime is not prayer circles or community patrols or “constructive loitering”. The solution to this is foot patrols. Bring back the foot patrols. My neighbors and I have been requesting this for years at our CAPS meetings.”

Laura Louzador told the Chi Town Daily News she “has never been afraid before but now I am. When I hear of these kinds of assaults I think there’s someone new in the neighborhood, something has changed.”

On February 23, 2006 the detectives upgraded the death investigation to a homicide investigation. On March 15, 2006 Leroy Prothro, of 7500 N. Sheridan Road, was arrested.

Tom Stanton of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office told the Daily News the police account of what happened after the party broke up. “At approximately 10:50 the defendant (Prothro) observed the witness in an altercation with the victim (Jones). The witness and victim exchanged words, then the witness poked the victim.

The defendant is a friend of the witness. The defendant crossed the street and, approaching the victim from behind, struck the victim.

The victim fell to the ground and hit the left side of his head and suffered a subdural hematoma.”

Seventeen year old Leroy Prothro appeared in bond court March 16 and was charged with first degree murder. Bond was set at $125,000.

He is currently in Cook County jail and is scheduled to appear in Branch 66 on April 5, 2006.

Tandra Simonton, of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office explained that the outcome of the Grand Jury hearing will determine the nature of the April 5th appearance. “If an indictment is handed down he will be given an arraignment date.”