Kevin Change, a 32-year-old man from Chicago, IL, was tragically shot to death on March 17, 2022, in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. The incident occurred in the 900 block of North St. Louis Avenue around 2 p.m. Kevin Change, who was of Asian descent, was involved in a heated argument over narcotics sales with Pretice Phillips, a 46-year-old man from Glen Ellyn. According to prosecutors, Phillips repeatedly warned Change before retrieving a handgun from his white Acura SUV and opening fire.
Change was struck multiple times and fell to the ground. Phillips then walked around his vehicle and fired additional shots at Change before driving away. Change was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation revealed that Phillips was on parole at the time of the shooting for a previous armed habitual criminal conviction. Surveillance cameras captured the entire incident, including audio of Phillips repeatedly warning Change. Phillips' parole officer identified him from the video footage, and he was subsequently charged with first-degree murder. During a court hearing, Phillips' defense attorney argued that the video footage was unclear and suggested that Change might have been armed as well. However, prosecutors disputed this claim, stating that multiple camera angles showed no evidence of Change having a weapon.
Phillips was held without bail following the hearing. The case highlighted the ongoing issues of drug-related violence and the challenges faced by law enforcement in addressing such crimes. The tragic death of Kevin Change, a 32-year-old Asian man, underscores the devastating impact of gun violence in Chicago and the need for continued efforts to combat this pervasive issue.
