Timothy Nickelson, a 32-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on December 20, 2020, in Chicago, Illinois. The incident occurred in the North Lawndale neighborhood, specifically in the 1100 block of South Homan Avenue. Timothy had attended a party with his sister, Yerica Nickelson, and her boyfriend, Levoid Oglesby-Williams. The three had driven from Wisconsin to Chicago for the event, arriving in separate vehicles.
The fatal altercation began when Timothy Nickelson
decided to leave the party early. Yerica Nickelson demanded money from her brother for gas and tolls to return home. Although Timothy gave her $20, Yerica wanted more and, in a fit of anger, shot one of the tires on his car. Surveillance footage captured Timothy getting out of his car and physically assaulting his sister by throwing her against the vehicle and punching her multiple times. In response, Levoid Oglesby-Williams, Yerica's boyfriend, intervened by opening fire on Timothy, striking him in the leg. Timothy was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Following the incident, both Yerica Nickelson and Levoid Oglesby-Williams were taken into custody. Yerica was charged with felony weapons charges, while Levoid faced a murder charge. However, during a bond hearing, Cook County prosecutors announced that the murder charge against Levoid Oglesby-Williams was being dropped. The decision was based on the evidence and the law, as reviewed by the state's attorney's office's Felony Review Unit. Despite the dropped murder charge, both Yerica and Levoid were held on $10,000 bail and faced additional weapons charges.
The investigation revealed that the guns used in the incident were registered to Yerica Nickelson, who had a valid permit to carry a concealed weapon in Wisconsin but not in Illinois. The tragic event highlighted the complexities of family disputes and the devastating consequences of escalating violence. Timothy Nickelson's death remains a poignant reminder of the need for conflict resolution and the impact of gun violence on communities.
