Che Allen Hearn, affectionately known as "Butta," was a 31-year-old African American man from Zion, Illinois. He tragically lost his life on September 17, 2021. Che was a lifelong resident of Waukegan, Illinois, and was well-known in his community for his love of basketball, earning the nickname "Butta" for his smooth shooting style. He was a beloved son, father, and brother, leaving behind a daughter and an unborn child, along with numerous family members and friends who cherished him deeply.
On the morning of September 17, 2021, the Zion Police Department responded to a report of shots fired in the 1700 block of Joanna Avenue in Zion. Upon arrival, officers found Che Hearn critically wounded inside his residence. He had been shot in the chest, and despite being transported to a nearby hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly after. The preliminary autopsy confirmed that Che Hearn died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
The investigation into Che Hearn's death revealed that the shooting was a targeted attack. Evidence indicated that someone had fired shots from the lawn outside his apartment, striking him while he was inside. The Zion Police Department, with assistance from the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, worked diligently to uncover the circumstances surrounding the shooting. It was determined that Che Hearn had a brief but heated encounter with Tavares Reed, a 28-year-old man from Waukegan, at a tavern in Kenosha earlier that morning. Following the dispute, Reed allegedly traveled to Che Hearn's apartment and fired several rounds into the residence.
Tavares Reed, who was on parole for a previous weapons violation, fled the state immediately after the shooting. An arrest warrant for first-degree murder was issued on October 15, 2021. Despite initial difficulties in locating Reed, authorities eventually apprehended him in Chicago without incident. Reed was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Che Hearn. The case highlighted the collaborative efforts of local law enforcement agencies in bringing the suspect to justice and underscored the tragic loss of a young man whose life was cut short by violence.
