Dawayne McCauley, a 30-year-old African American male, was tragically killed on March 17, 2020, in Harvey, Illinois. The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. in the 14600 block of Jefferson Street. According to reports, McCauley was shot in the chest during an altercation with his younger brother, Roosevelt Ratliff Jr., who was 22 years old at the time.
The altercation began when McCauley, who was seeking a place to stay, was refused entry into the home by Ratliff. The situation quickly escalated into a physical confrontation that spilled into the street. During the fight, McCauley grabbed a shovel and later a brick, threatening Ratliff and their father. Ratliff then instructed his girlfriend to retrieve his gun, but she refused and ran into a bedroom. Ratliff subsequently retrieved the gun himself and, during the continued confrontation, fired a single shot that struck McCauley in the upper chest, resulting in his death at the scene.
Following the shooting, Ratliff handed the gun to another individual in the home, who then fled the scene. Ratliff was arrested at the scene by officers from the Harvey Police Department. He was charged with first-degree murder and held without bail. The case was significant as it marked the first homicide of the year in Harvey.
The Cook County medical examiner's office conducted an autopsy and ruled McCauley's death a homicide. Ratliff, who had no prior criminal history, appeared in bond court and was ordered to be held without bail. The case was set for further court proceedings in April 2020.
