Robert Chitty, a 49-year-old African American male from Chicago, Illinois, tragically lost his life on June 15, 2020. Robert, who had both legs amputated and used a wheelchair, was found fatally shot in a basement apartment in the Calumet Heights neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. Witnesses reported hearing arguing followed by gunfire around 8:10 a.m. that morning. Robert was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy confirmed that he died from multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was ruled a homicide.
The investigation revealed that Robert Chitty and another victim, Michael Shelton, 61, were shot by Christopher Campbell, a 30-year-old former roommate. Campbell had been kicked out of the basement apartment the day before the shooting due to several complaints from his roommates. Enraged by his eviction, Campbell returned the next morning with a cooler containing a .22 caliber Ruger long rifle. He entered the apartment, and shortly after, the homeowner, who is Robert Chitty's mother, heard Campbell's voice, arguing, and then nine gunshots. Robert was shot six times and later died at the hospital, while Michael Shelton was found dead in the basement with multiple gunshot wounds.
Surveillance footage captured Campbell entering the home with the cooler and leaving shortly after the shooting. Police later found the cooler, the rifle, and other evidence in a car parked in a nearby church parking lot. Campbell was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He had a prior criminal record, including convictions for weapons possession and communicating with a witness. Campbell was held without bail and was expected to appear in court on July 22, 2020. The case highlighted the tragic consequences of unresolved conflicts and the devastating impact of gun violence in the community.
