Shonta Harris, a 24-year-old African American woman, tragically lost her life on June 22, 2020, in Chicago, IL. The incident occurred during a domestic dispute involving her boyfriend, John Matthews. The altercation began when Matthews asked Harris to cook breakfast and braid his hair, but she declined because she wasn't feeling well. This refusal enraged Matthews, leading him to punch Harris in the face. His grandmother intervened, attempting to defuse the situation by taking Harris outside.
However, Matthews followed them, continuing to berate Harris. When Harris' mother, Frances Neal, and her sister, Jasmine Neal, arrived to pick her up, Matthews' anger escalated further. He shot Frances Neal multiple times and then shot Harris in the chest. Finally, he shot Jasmine Neal in the head as she tried to flee. Frances Neal and Jasmine Neal died at the scene, while Harris was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries later.
John Matthews, 25, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Shonta Harris, Frances Neal, and Jasmine Neal. Matthews fled to Iowa after the shooting and was arrested following a car accident in August 2020. He was extradited back to Illinois and held without bail. During his bail hearing, it was revealed that Matthews and Harris had been dating for two years and had a 4-month-old son together. Matthews' grandmother, who witnessed the entire incident, identified him as the shooter. Additionally, Harris provided a videotaped statement from her hospital bed before she passed away, identifying Matthews as the perpetrator.
The case against John Matthews proceeded with significant evidence, including eyewitness testimony from his grandmother and the videotaped statement from Harris. The prosecution detailed the events leading up to the shooting, emphasizing Matthews' violent reaction to Harris' refusal to cook and braid his hair. The court heard how Matthews' rage culminated in the tragic deaths of three women, leaving a young child without his mother. Matthews' defense attorney noted that he had no prior criminal history and had been employed by Amazon. Despite this, the judge ordered Matthews to be held without bail, citing the severity of the charges and the compelling evidence against him.
