A small white teddy bear shrine sits in a bed of foliage near the blood stained sidewalk where twenty-one year old Anthony Morgan, of 28 West 113th Place was gunned down by police last night, in what was called a justified shooting death at 1321 West Pratt. A Ceasefire circle prayer is sure to follow.
39 comments:
He WAS NOT "gunned down" by the Police! He was shot and killed after he pointed,aimed and fired a pistol at the Police who were chasing him due to his suspicious behavior. I hope that somebody in the 24th District has the gumption to remove this little memorial and dispose of it with the rest of the garbage.
Shouldn't we pray for the officers who dodged Morgan's bullets? Does anyone have a few good reasons why Morgan deserves a circle prayer?
You are on quite a roll,Gernhardt! First you set up Alderman Stone with a Dirty trick from your Knees,and now you mourn someone who shot at the very Police who are risking their lives to protect us 24/7!,but you complain about living in a "HELL HOLE". Perhaps you would find Baghdad or Gaza your type of paradise.Your HYPOCRISY fools nobody, and you are certainly no journalist(despite your claims),nor are you even a responsible community activist/leader;a COMMUNITY FRAUD is more accurate!
Why start complaining now? For the record, I've been covering the shrines of Rogers Park since 2005.
2 children were just shot on the south side # 32 and 33. Their crime: nada
Of course he deseves mourning and grief. What's the matter with you people? You get all upset over trifles, its just more good riddance to bad rubbish huh? Don't you think you're trash? No basic human sympathy. Yeah these guys get recruited really young when they don't know any better. All the stupid kids listen to the gangbanger music and watch the succesful highrollers on TV and in the streets. They look up to them and see an opportunity to have that success for themselves. Most of them earn less than minimum wage peddling for the top dogs and most of them end up dead or in jail. How'd you like to be born into that world? I used to talk to this guy, he couldn't read but he was pretty smart and he liked cheesy movies and he took tender fatherly care of his infant son. He told me point blank, we know we have no future. Well things sunk in for all the hustlers when one of them was gunned down in the street by another guy he grew up with. They were pretty scared, but they react like they think they're supposed to, like tough guys. I don't even think by 21 most people get it. he got it though, he moved to Oswego with a girl he met from the suburbs, they call them headhunters, these suburban girls who go to the ghetto with money cruising for a tough guy boyfriend. You'd be surprised how fast these kids would get out of the ghetto lifestyle if given a chance.
So,lets get this right-you mourn at all shrines ,even to those who attempted to kill Police?!Are you an anarchist like Hugh,who hates all public officials and only complains and distorts? Seems to be.
just stop paradise.
you want a human touch for these thugs. are they humane when they commit their crimes? murder, rape, or shooting some innocent kid?
they have choices. there are success stories from people who had nothing and grew up in the same environment. you want us to think that they get caught up in the lifestyle and have few choices.
just stop. you can talk to them and try and help, but most just want them gone. unless they change there ways. that won't happen anytime soon in our society.
May Anthony Morgan burn in Hell.
Lets pray for the officer that was chasing and dodgeing the gunfire at him that he wasn't harmed-
Just hope Pratt DOSEN'T turn into Morse Ave--------------------
Toto, you are making an awful lot of assumptions here.
As for Paradise, when will we learn to stop feeding the troll?
This person basically committed suicide when he turned around and started firing his gun at police officers on a busy street, and it wasn't even dark out yet. Maybe his friends and family want to mourn him at the site, but I sure don't. The fact that this type of armed thug/maniac/idiot has been and may continue to be walking our neighborhood streets is my only concern right now.
... and I agree, he was not "gunned down" by police.
"Paradise" is what is known as an enabler and criminal coddler.
Sorry, if this guy had the soul to take "tender care" of his infant son, then he had the soul and brains to know he was making bad, immoral choices.
Most people on this planet were born into crap circumstances. Most people born into these circumstances are NOT criminals.
This guy was capable of observing, listening, and learning from the entire world, and he chose to learn from thugs.
Sorry, this guy does not deserve a shrine or a prayer circle. I can't shed a tear for someone who fired shots at the police or any other innocent person.
Why don't we have a prayer circle for all the young children who have been injured or killed by gang gunfire, instead?
Craig, you need to update your photo - the shrine has been expanded to include helium balloons, fake flowers, and candles.
I wouldn't begrudge anyone who feels sorry for Morgan under the "all life, even gang-banging gun-toting life, is sacred" theory. You're entitled to your opinions, just as the rest of us who are glad that he was the one who bit it and not the officers or innocent bystanders, are entitled to our opinions. You won't see me lighting any candles out on Pratt, that's for sure.
Sorry Toto, assumptions must be accompanied by a real name.
I live on Pratt and until yesterday it was NOTHING LIKE Morse ave.
It has been heretofore a lovely,pristine street with no bad buildings since 1200 was shut down for reno. I've really enjoyed living around here.
I hope this event doesn't trigger an exodus from the area.
I just moved from 5 years on Pratt and still have family that's been there for over 10 years. 1137 Pratt has sucked for years. The 2 highrises, Seville and Astor, have very spotty histories. Around the corner there are problem buildings on both Wayne and Lakewood. The two story 1960s construction subsidized building at the corner of Lakewood has had problems. Heck, the gargantuan 7003 Sheridan building has had has plenty all by itself over the years. And I won't even mention the Oasis, or what goes on in the park and the alleys at night. *chuckle* Pratt is just like every other block of RP... good, bad and in between.
Let's talk about assumtions here. You want to make Anthony Morgan a victim? He was not gunned down. He made a choice. He could have stopped anytime and layed down on the ground and put his hands behind his back.
You guys complain about lack of police action, and when you get some you turn on the crocodile victim tears.
Well boo hoo for all of you. Mr. Anthony Morgan isn't around anymore to victimize innocent people with guns and drugs.
By your own comments on an earlier post you said he was an admited Gangster Disciple. He ain't no boy scout. So go march around in your pious, phoney prayer circles. When it comes to putting your life on the line for the community, its the cops that count.
I think it's interesting that seemingly educated people just regurgitate whatever the police announce at their little press conferences. Innocent until proven guilty, my friends. Anyone with two brain cells that fire knows that the cops use these types of press statements to (a) protect their own asses and (b) set up a good situation for the prosecutor.
How do we know the guy was a self-admitted GD? Because it said that on his rap sheet? He might have admitted that a long time ago, or GET THIS: the police might have made it up. They do it all the time.
If you don't think the police are crooked in this neighborhood, just try to stand somewhere and observe them next time you see them questioning someone (preferably a young, black guy). What you'll find is that they get really freaking nervous. And they'll start giving you a hard time.
Better yet, if you don't think the cops in RP are dirty, find a way to morph into a black dude yourself and go for stroll. You'll surely see things from a whole different perspective, pretty quickly. And for god's sake, don't run, because they might shoot you.
Here to protect us, huh? Let's see if the bullet that went through that lady's window was a cop bullet or the deceased's.
If you folks are so afraid of minorities and so trusting of the cops, you should move to Lincoln Park, where you can be surrounded by DRUNK ASS WHITE GUYS instead.
I will agree with the last statement that Lincoln Park is a bunch of dumbass, snotty, drunk Cubs fans walking around in their "safe haven". I will also agree that just as anyone cops can be dirty. We should not regurgitate facts because it is only one side of the story. It still as not been established what the "suspicious" activity was. Whether or not you choose to mourn this young mans life is your choice. However in the end all we know is that someone was shot and killed in plain light on the streets of Rogers Park. Instead of blaming one person, why not look at the grand scheme of things. Report suspicious behavior, look out for yourself and do not put yourself in bad situations.
The memorial is in front of the building in which I live.
Last night was a rough one for those of us who live here. What happened last night didn't shake my belief that I live in what has for the most part been a safe and quiet neighborhood.
I don't pretend to know the details of what ended Anthony's life. I only saw the aftermath when I looked out my window.
Whether the fault lies with Anthony, the police or some combination of both a young man died in front of our home.
I don't want a memorial in my front yard but I understand why it is there.
beauty queen:
first there is the criminal.
second there is people like paradise who want to be compassionate toward criminals who aren't humane when it comes to their victims.
and of course there are the conspiracy, can't trust the police people like you. i said it before, until you prove that the gun was planted.....
you bring up the race card like a champ, when race hasn't even been discussed here. just a criminal. a dead criminal. keep blaming the police for the problems in the black community. look how much good, blaming everyone else has done so far.
"If you folks are so afraid of minorities and so trusting of the cops, you should move to Lincoln Park, where you can be surrounded by DRUNK ASS WHITE GUYS instead."
Where do I begin on that comment? In different context, no one would care that you think of LP residents as dumb white drunks, but you play the race card then follow immediately with your own racist stereotypical comment like that. Nice.
People aren't afraid of minorities, they are afraid--or better yet sick of--the crap that goes on around here involving gangs, street thugs, and others up to no good no matter what race they belong to. No one "afraid" of minorities would ever move to RP.
And unrelated to all this: Walking home on Greenleaf by Ashland last night a group of 5 young males on the other side of the street started throwing rocks at us for no reason whatsoever. I called the police and reported the incident...which is fortunate for those kids because some people might have taken the law into their own hands
Jerk Store said...> "Walking home on Greenleaf by Ashland last night, a group of 5 young males on the other side of the street started throwing rocks at us for no reason whatsoever."
I just got back from the area CAPS 2423 meeting and heard this 911 call. Glad to hear no one got hit.
On Sunday my elderly neighbor was mugged and is in intensive care at Northwestern. The week before that a different neighbor was attacked and his tires slashed because he reported that the building north of him was throwing their garbage bags on his roof and some thugs were hanging out being loud and obnoxious to all that pass by after 10 PM. We are trying to organize a group trip to the 2422 CAPS meeting. Both of these attacks took place before 8 PM. Wake up people. There is one less thug out there for the better. RIP.
"sarcasm" Perhaps these shootings are a good thing. Ok follow me here. After the incident occured, how many of our neighbors were out and about to see what the commotion was all about? I spoke with and met more of my neighbors in the one hour I was out there than in the year that I have lived in Rogers Park. I learned about where people came from, what they liked about the neighborhood and in some cases family history or tradition. We spoke about what we like and would like to see changed. Where else would so many gather together? That being said I am sure there are better ways to bring such a large group of area residents together.
BEAUTY QUEEN:
Go to the IDOC website. http://www.idoc.state.il.us/
Go to INMATE SEARCH.
Put in Anthony Morgans name. Look at his tattoos. Read what they say and look at where they are on his body. Look at why he was in prison.
Now play your race card with a full deck.
blue, are you sure it's the same guy? All the reports say he was 21, but according to the IDOC page that guy was 24.
yes, it is the same morgan. the age on the website is the age he was sentenced....he was released on parole.
When people stand up to the fools on the corner this neighborhood will change.
If you are afraid of them then let the police do it.
When the police pick the right guy, the one with the gun, don't criticize the police for doing the job YOU don't/can't/won't do.
Even though I've expressed anger that there are residents who can't seem to comprehend why friends and family members of Anthony Morgan would like a memorial for him, I am appreciative and understanding of the police officer's response. After all, he SHOT AT A COP. Enough said. I'm glad this PO risked his life to ensure residents didn't get harmed or killed because of him, and I'm glad there isn't some drawn out investigation for the sake of the officer.
p.s. Does anybody have an idea of who took down the memorial? A resident? The police? Obviously, no one wants to admit to it, but I was just curious. Also, I haven't seen anybody hanging around there anymore, but was wondering if anyone had run into negative feedback (from family, friends of the deceased) as a result of it missing.
My bet is Streets and Sanitation. Mike E. was by this morning checking to see if it had re-appeared. Had it, he would've removed it. If there's anyone in this ward I trust to get something done on a timely basis, it's Mike. We're lucky to have him.
I figured. I would think residents would be too afraid b/c of possible retaliation from fellow gang members. I haven't seen any gatherings to that location since its removal. If people were still hanging around there, especially late at night like they were doing, I was going to start walking out my door with a big "i didn't remove it" sign on my chest. (just kidding, sort of)
He had three tears tattooed on his cheeks. I have heard that a tear tattoo refers to having killed someone. Can anyone confirm this?
apparently the tear tattoos can mean a number of things:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tear_tattoo
thrumyeyesinc, is a total mental case, as I'm sure you can tell by reading him. You should see this insane, psychopath on the AOL message boards... talk about hateful and uneducated. The guys as dumb as a rock.
FIRST OF ALL I'M ANTHONY MORGAN REAL BIRTH SISTER AND I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THE OFFICER THAT SHOT AND KILLED MY BROTHER THAT YOU DESTROYED MY LIFE AND MY ENTIRE FAMILY LIFE FIRST OF HOW ARE WE GOING TO TRUST YOUR SIDE OF THE STORY WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK ANTHONY BUT GUESS WHAT HE'S NOT HERE.SO DON'T MAKE IT LIKE MY BROTHER WAS THE BAD ONE BECAUSE HE WASN'T HE WAS ACTUALLY LOVING,CARING,SMART HE'S WAS A GREAT PERSON FIRST OF ALL AND MY BROTHER WAS A GANG MEMBER BUT WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THIS STORY NUTHING AT ALL THIS WAS NOT A GANG SHOOTING THIS WAS YOU SHOOTING AND KILLING MY BROTHER AND WE CAN'T TAKE YOUR SIDE JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A BADGE AND LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED AT THE FUNERAL MY BROTHER HEAD WAS SO HUGE BECAUSE U U U U SHOT HIM IN THE HEAD WHEN I SAW HIM I DID'NT EVEN WANT TO HUG HIM OR KISS HIM BECAUSE HE LOOKED LIKE A MONSTER.AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO SAY MY BROTHER WAS A BAD PERSON DON'T BE QUICK TO JUDGE INLESS YOU KNOW HIM PERSONALLY AND NOT BY BACKGROUND.AND GOD SAID DON'T KILL HE DIDN'T SAT ACCEPT POLICE OFFICERS SO GUESS WHAT GOD WILL BE THE LAST ONE JUDGING AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO SAY WAS TRASH HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT AND YOU DON'T KNOW HIM SHAME ON YOU!!!!! AND MY BROTHER A PRAYER CIRCLE BECAUSE HE'S HUMAN JUST BECAUSE HE WAS A GANG MEMBER DON'T MEAN HE'S NOT HUMAN AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION HE DID'NY KNOW TO MUCH ABOUT BEING A MAN BECAUSE HE DIDN'T GROW UP WITH A FATHER JUST MY MOM TRYING TO GET BY HW BEEN IN FOSTER CARE SINCE HE WAS LITTLE WHERE PEOPLE TREATED HIM BAD AND HE JUST WASN'T REALLY TOOKEN CARE OF PROPERLY I'M ONLY 14YRS OLD AND MY OLDEST BROTHER IS GONE FOREVER AND I'M SORRY THAT ANTHONY SHOT AT YOU BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE HE MESSED UP AT
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