Rodjzae Funches-Heard, a 26-year-old African American woman, was tragically killed on October 18, 2020, in Chicago, Illinois. The incident occurred in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. According to reports, a male suspect followed Funches-Heard to a vehicle after an argument and fired shots at her in the 7500 block of South Emerald Avenue.
She was shot in the chest and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
The investigation into her death revealed that the altercation began at a party hosted by Tiara Lloyd's boyfriend. Funches-Heard, her sister, and several others attended the party, where Funches-Heard confronted Lloyd about her treatment of Funches-Heard's sister. The conversation between the two women turned physical, and during the altercation, Lloyd allegedly instructed her cousin, Bryan Tart, to shoot Funches-Heard. Tart, a 36-year-old African American man, complied and shot Funches-Heard in the face, resulting in her death.
Bryan Tart was charged with first-degree murder and held without bail. He was extradited from Kokomo, Indiana, by the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force and charged in connection with Funches-Heard's death. Tart has a history of previous convictions, including burglary and aggravated battery with a weapon. He was taken into custody for an unrelated incident in Indiana, and an arrest warrant charging him with Funches-Heard's murder was issued shortly after.
Tiara Lloyd was also charged with Funches-Heard's murder and is currently on house arrest with electronic monitoring while awaiting trial. The case against Tart and Lloyd is ongoing, with Tart facing up to a life sentence if convicted.
