Chicago Man Kills One of Two Assailants; No Charges Planned

A man accosted by two knife-wielding youths who apparently were trying to steal his groceries shot one of them to death, but police said Friday they did not expect charges to be filed.

A youth, identified as Detrick Wallace, 18, of Chicago, died Friday at University of Illinois Hospital of a gunshot wound to the head, spokeswoman Vicky Vasquez said.

According to witnesses to Thursday night’s shooting, a man believed to be between 55 and 60 years old was walking down the center of a West Side street on his way home from a neighborhood store, apparently aware he was being followed by two youths wearing ski masks, according to Earl Johnson, commander of Area 4 Violent Crimes.

Youth Drew Knife

After the two youths caught up with him, one of them drew a knife and attempted to grab one of the grocery bags, he said.

The older man then produced a pistol and fired at least three shots, striking Wallace in the head, Johnson said.

Police asked the older man to turn himself in and conducted a door-to-door canvass of the neighborhood in a search for him and the youth’s accomplice, believed to be about 16.

But late Friday, Johnson said officers did not expect charges to be filed. “As of now, with the statements we have from witnesses, I would recommend that no charges be placed” against the man who fired the shots, Johnson said at a news conference.

“According to the information that we have, it’s a case of a person walking down the street minding his own business and being attacked by two men,” he said.

Earlier Friday, Johnson compared the incident to the well-publicized shooting of four youths on a New York City subway.

“I’m aware of the interest in this case because of the parallels,” Johnson said. “I understand the man in New York surrendered himself. . . . I’m hoping our man here will do the same to help us.”

In another Chicago incident Thursday night, 76-year-old Carl Hamby used a pocket knife to stab a knife-wielding woman after deciding it was “either me or her.” He said he stabbed his assailant in the arm after she threatened to “cut off my head.”