An 11-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Chicago while trying to protect his 33-week pregnant mother from her “abusive ex-boyfriend.”
Suspect Crosetti Brand, 37, was charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in connection with Wednesday’s fatal stabbing that left Jayden Perkins dead and his mother, Laterria Smith, in critical condition.
Brand was Smith’s ex-boyfriend and had been paroled after being sentenced to 16 years in prison for a home invasion.
Chicago Police Chief Larry Snelling said Brand had been released on parole just one day before the attack.
11-year-old Jayden Perkins was stabbed to death while trying to protect his pregnant mother
The suspect in custody, Crosetti Brand, 37, has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in connection with the fatal stabbing.
Chicago Police Chief Larry Snelling said Brand was released on parole the day before he carried out the attack
Smith had obtained a protective order against the suspect 20 years before Wednesday’s attack because he had repeatedly threatened and assaulted her and her mother
Pictured: Neighbors embracing as they mourn the death of Jayden Perkins
Pictured: Officers outside the family’s apartment complex investigate the crime scene
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx said the boy died Wednesday morning of a stab wound to the chest while trying to protect his mother.
Chief of Detectives Antoinette Ursitti said at a news conference that Brand “was released on parole last October and placed under electronic monitoring.”
“While on parole, he threatened the female victim via text message and also showed up at her home.
“He was returned to prison in February for this parole violation.”
Smith had obtained a protective order against the suspect 20 years before Wednesday’s attack for repeatedly threatening and assaulting her and her mother, based on a motion filed by prosecutors in an unrelated case.
His abuse reportedly began in September 2006 after Smith broke up with the suspect. Brand came to her house and threatened her with a gun, which he fired in the hallway before leaving.
Brand continued to harass the family, throwing rocks at their window and calling them obsessively. Two years after the breakup, he allegedly hit the mother at a bus stop because she was dating someone else.
A neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous, said Smith also had a 5-year-old son, Perkins’ brother, and lived in the complex with her fiancé.
The mother of three children said Chicago Tribune that her sister had heard screams coming from the apartment.
In addition to murder, Brand has also been charged with three counts of residential burglary with a dangerous weapon, one count of armed robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of aggravated domestic battery, one count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, one count of violation of one previous protective order and one count of parole.
A vigil was held outside the apartment complex on Thursday
‘No one can replace him. No one can take his place,” said Perkins’ friend Alexis Perez.
A fundraiser has been held to support Perkins’ family during this time
Neighbors held a vigil for Perkins outside the apartment complex Thursday.
‘No one can replace him. No one can take his place,” Perkins’ friend Alexis Perez told the local ABC affiliate WLS.’
“He’s the kindest, most trustworthy friend you could probably ever ask for,” Perkins’ friend Nathaniel Vodak, 12, told WLS.
a fundraising was made to support the victim’s family during this time, having raised more than $27,000 as of Friday afternoon.