Kijuan Burrage, a 24-year-old African American male, was fatally shot on September 6, 2020, in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The incident occurred around 2:25 a.m. during a large gathering in the 2100 block of West Randolph Street. Burrage was struck in the shoulder and foot and was subsequently pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital. The Cook County medical examiner's office ruled his death a homicide.
Witnesses at the scene were uncooperative with investigators, which initially hindered the progress of the investigation.
The circumstances leading to Burrage's death involved a confrontation at the party. According to Cook County prosecutors, the altercation began when two men started fighting over a woman. Burrage intervened in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. During the chaos, an unidentified individual and Jequan Scales, a 32-year-old man from Indiana, opened fire on the group. Burrage tried to flee but was shot multiple times. Security cameras in the area captured the shooting, showing Scales interacting with the other shooter before the shots were fired.
Following the incident, Scales was arrested the next day for unlawful use of a weapon. The gun found in his possession matched the shell casings recovered from the scene of Burrage's murder. In January 2021, Scales was charged with Burrage's murder and held without bail. During court proceedings, it was revealed that Scales admitted to being at the scene and possessing a gun on the day of the shooting. His attorney noted that Scales had been employed as a cook for a catering company and lived in Chicago with his fiancée.
The investigation into Burrage's death highlighted the challenges faced by law enforcement in solving homicides where witnesses are reluctant to cooperate. Despite the initial lack of cooperation, the use of surveillance footage and forensic evidence played a crucial role in identifying and apprehending the suspect. The case underscores the importance of community involvement and the use of technology in modern criminal investigations.
