Judge Raymond Myles, a 66-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed outside his home in Chicago, Illinois, on April 10, 2017. The incident occurred early in the morning, around 4:50 a.m., in the 9400 block of South Forest Avenue. Myles, who served as a Cook County Associate Judge, was targeted in what authorities described as a robbery attempt.
The assailant also shot Myles' 52-year-old girlfriend, who survived the attack and was recovering from her injuries.
The investigation revealed that the motive behind the shooting was robbery, and it was determined that the crime was not related to Myles' position as a judge. The alleged getaway driver, Joshua Smith, a 37-year-old male, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and obstruction of justice. Smith had a criminal history, including a previous conviction for armed robbery in 2003, for which he served a six-year sentence. He was also involved in a carjacking incident in 2002.
Smith confessed that he and his accomplice had surveilled Judge Myles' house for several weeks prior to the attack. On the day of the murder, the accomplice shot Myles and his girlfriend, then stole the woman's gym bag, mistakenly believing it contained cash. The bag was later discarded when no money was found inside. Smith drove himself to the police station for questioning and has been in custody since his arrest.
The investigation into the murder of Judge Myles involved extensive efforts by the Chicago Police Department, including the review of surveillance footage from the neighborhood. This footage played a crucial role in identifying the vehicle used in the crime. The police also discovered that the license plates on the vehicle had been altered to hinder the investigation. Despite these efforts, the gunman who actually shot Myles remained at large for some time.
The case drew significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the victim and the brutal circumstances of the crime. Judge Myles was well-respected in the legal community, and his death was a profound loss to his colleagues and the community he served. The legal proceedings against Joshua Smith continued as authorities sought to bring all those involved in the crime to justice.
