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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 the fatal stabbing Wednesday that took the life of Jayden Perkins and left his mother, Laterria Smith, in critical condition.
Brand was Smith’s ex-boyfriend and on parole after being sentenced to 16 years in prison for a home invasion.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said Brand had been released on parole just one day before the attack.
11-year-old Jayden Perkins was stabbed to death in an attempt 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 Superintendent Larry Snelling said Brand was released on parole the day before he carried out the attack
Smith had an order of protection against the suspect 20 years before Wednesday’s attack for repeatedly threatening and assaulting her and her mother
Pictured: Neighbors embrace each other as they mourn the death of Jayden Perkins
Pictured: Police outside the family’s apartment complex investigating the crime scene
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx said the boy died from a stab wound to the chest while trying to protect his mother Wednesday morning.
Detective Chief Antoinette Ursitti said at a press conference that Brand was ‘paroled and put on electronic monitoring last October’.
‘While on parole he threatened the female victim via text message and also turned up at her home.
‘He was sent back to prison in February for this parole.’
Smith had an order of protection against the suspect 20 years before Wednesday’s attack for repeatedly threatening and assaulting her and her mother, according to a motion filed by prosecutors in an unrelated case.
His abuse allegedly began in September 2006 after Smith broke up with the suspect. Brand came to her house and threatened her with a gun and fired it in the hallway before leaving.
Brand continued to harass the family, throwing stones at their window and calling them possessed. Two years after the breakup, he allegedly punched the mother at a bus stop for dating someone else.
A neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous, said Smith also had a five-year-old son, Perkins’ brother, and lived in the complex with his fiancé.
The mother of three said so 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 home invasion with a dangerous weapon, one count of armed robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of aggravated domestic violence, one count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon , one count of violation of a prior protection order and one issuance of a parole violation warrant.
On Thursday, a vigil was held outside the apartment complex
‘No one can replace him. No one can take his place,’ Perkins’ friend Alexis Perez said.
A fundraiser has been made to support Perkins’ family during this time
Neighbors held a vigil for Perkins Thursday outside the apartment complex.
‘No one can replace him. No one can take his place,’ Perkins’ friend Alexis Perez told local ABC broadcaster WLS.’
“He’s the most kind, trustworthy friend you could ever ask for,” Perkins’ friend Nathaniel Vodak, 12, told WLS.
ONE collection has been made to support the victim’s family at this time, which had raised over $27,000 as of Friday afternoon.