Oscar L. Clay, a 52-year-old African American man, was tragically killed on May 28, 2017, in Chicago, IL. The incident occurred in the family's home located in the 1700 block of North Narragansett Avenue. According to prosecutors, the altercation began when Clay's stepson, Leshaun Hodges, 27, was yelling profanities at his mother. Clay intervened, telling Hodges not to disrespect his mother.
This confrontation escalated when Hodges went into a bedroom, retrieved a gun, and pointed it at his mother. Clay helped his wife safely exit the house, but Hodges then shot Clay six times, including four times in the chest.
Leshaun Hodges was charged with first-degree murder and was held at Cook County Jail without bond. At the time of the incident, Hodges was on parole for an armed robbery conviction. The Cook County State's Attorney's Office reported that Hodges had been arguing and cursing at his mother around 1:30 p.m. on the day of the incident. Clay's intervention led to a shoving match between the two men, which was broken up by Hodges' mother. However, Hodges returned with a black pistol and shot Clay.
The investigation revealed that Hodges had been arrested five hours after the incident near Humboldt Park, about four miles west of the apartment. He was found still behind the wheel of the car he and his mother owned. During the bond hearing, Assistant State’s Attorney Nora Gill stated that neighbors heard Hodges' mother screaming as she ran out of the apartment building and saw Hodges walk out, still holding the gun. Police found live 9-millimeter rounds in the pocket of a jacket in Hodges' room, matching the six cartridge casings found near Clay's body.
Oscar Clay was pronounced dead at Illinois Masonic Hospital. The tragic incident highlighted the ongoing issues of domestic violence and gun violence in Chicago. The case received significant media attention, and Hodges' actions were widely condemned. The legal proceedings against Hodges continued, with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office pursuing a conviction for first-degree murder.
