Devon Almon, a 24-year-old African American male, was tragically killed on September 29, 2016, in Chicago, Illinois. Almon, who was a documented gang member, was shot while riding in a car on the Eisenhower Expressway. The incident occurred shortly after he left the Maybrook Courthouse in Maywood. The vehicle was being driven by a female friend who was not injured in the shooting.
Despite her efforts to rush Almon to West Suburban Medical Center, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The investigation into Devon Almon's death revealed that the shooting was a targeted attack. Two men, Terreon Johnson, 27, and Irell Dickens, 29, were charged with first-degree murder in connection with the incident. Both Johnson and Dickens were identified as members of a rival gang. The motive behind the killing was retaliation for the murder of an associate of Johnson's, which had occurred earlier in July 2016. This was not the first attempt on Almon's life; there had been two previous attempts, one in July and another in August of the same year.
The investigation was complex and took several months to piece together. Initially, Johnson was identified as the gunman and was taken into custody the day after the shooting. However, due to insufficient evidence at the time, he was released. It was later determined that Johnson had conspired with a group of associates to locate and kill Almon. The vehicle used in the shooting was found in Johnson's garage, which further implicated him in the crime. Dickens was also identified as a co-conspirator in the murder plot.
Both Johnson and Dickens were arrested on May 9, 2017. Johnson was apprehended at his workplace, while Dickens was taken into custody at the Lee County Courthouse in Dixon, Illinois, where he was attending a court appearance for an unrelated traffic charge. They were both charged with first-degree murder and held at the Cook County Jail on a $2 million bond each. The case highlighted the ongoing issue of gang-related violence in Chicago, particularly on the expressways, and the determination of law enforcement to bring those responsible to justice.
