Frances Neal, a 56-year-old African American woman, was tragically killed on June 22, 2020, in the Gresham neighborhood of Chicago, IL. The incident occurred during a domestic dispute involving her daughter, Shonta Harris, and Harris's boyfriend, John Matthews. The altercation began when Matthews, 25, became enraged after Harris declined to cook breakfast and braid his hair due to not feeling well. Matthews responded violently, punching Harris in the face.
Harris's mother, Frances Neal, and her sister, Jasmine Neal, arrived at the scene to help Harris and her 4-month-old son. Matthews, in a fit of rage, shot Frances Neal multiple times, resulting in her immediate death. Jasmine Neal, 27, was also fatally shot, and Shonta Harris was critically injured but survived initially, only to succumb to her injuries later.
John Matthews was identified as the shooter by multiple witnesses, including his own grandmother and Shonta Harris, who provided a videotaped statement before her death. Matthews fled the scene and was later apprehended in Iowa after a car accident. He was extradited back to Illinois and charged with three counts of first-degree murder. During his bail hearing, it was revealed that Matthews had no prior criminal history and had been employed by Amazon. Despite his attorney's arguments, Matthews was held without bail due to the severity of the charges and the strong evidence against him.
The case against John Matthews proceeded with significant media coverage, highlighting the brutal nature of the crime and the impact on the victims' families. Matthews's actions were described as a result of uncontrollable rage, leading to the tragic deaths of Frances Neal and her family members. The legal proceedings focused on the testimonies of witnesses and the evidence collected at the scene, painting a clear picture of the events that led to the fatal shootings. The community mourned the loss of Frances Neal, a beloved mother and grandmother, whose life was cut short by a senseless act of violence.
