Courtney Horton, a 32-year-old African American male, was tragically killed on June 10, 2020, in Chicago, IL. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning in the Old Town neighborhood. Horton was found with multiple gunshot wounds in the hallway of a building located in the 1300 block of North Hudson Avenue. The shooting was the result of a dispute over money between Horton and his friend, Rotonio Esco, a 28-year-old male.
Security guards at the Marshall Field Garden Apartments overheard Horton telling Esco that Esco owed him money shortly before the shooting. Horton was shot in the thigh, abdomen, chest, wrist, and bicep, and was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Rotonio Esco was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Courtney Horton. According to prosecutors, Esco and Horton were seen leaving the main security building of the apartment complex just before 2 a.m. on the day of the incident. They returned to the complex about 10 minutes later, and Esco, who lived in the building, was allowed to enter. Security guards responded to shots fired in the building and found Horton with multiple gunshot wounds in the hallway after following a blood trail. Esco was seen walking briskly through a courtyard towards the exit of the apartment complex with blood stains on his gray sweatpants. He fled the scene, dropping his cell phone, ID, and a gun as he ran.
Esco was eventually apprehended after breaking into a nearby apartment and attempting to hide on the roof. A 9mm cartridge fell from Esco as he was being led to a squad car, and officers recovered $1,200 soaked in blood near his waistband. Esco was ordered held without bail at a hearing and was due in court again on July 1, 2020. The case against Esco included evidence such as shell casings from the murder scene that matched the gun he allegedly ditched, and bloody $100 bills found in his pants pocket. The tragic death of Courtney Horton highlights the devastating impact of violence and the importance of addressing underlying issues such as financial disputes and access to firearms.
