Kevin L. Denson, a 35-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on December 2, 2014, in Riverdale, Illinois. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. near West 138th Street and South Stewart Avenue. Denson suffered multiple gunshot wounds inside a home, leading to his untimely death. He was taken to MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, where he was pronounced dead at 5:17 p.m. The shooting also left a woman injured, though her injuries were not life-threatening.
She was shot in the shoulder and taken to Ingalls Memorial Hospital.
The incident sparked a high-speed police chase that ended on Chicago's Far South Side. Riverdale police officers received information that a subject was putting children in a vehicle and fleeing the scene. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, which led to a chase that ended near West 116th and South Laflin streets. The driver was arrested, and the two children, both boys, were found unharmed.
Deonte Smith, a 25-year-old male, was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and aggravated fleeing and eluding. Bond was set at $6 million for Smith. The police confirmed that the incident was domestic-related, though they did not release the name of the man in custody immediately. The investigation revealed that Smith had shot two people, one fatally, before leading police on the high-speed chase.
Neighbors expressed their shock and sadness over the incident. Derrick Spencer, a neighbor, mentioned that Denson worked at a Chicago hotel and had just moved into his home with his family in July. He described the incident as shocking and sad, noting that there were never any known problems until the tragic event occurred. Another neighbor, Linda Williams, witnessed the arrest and described the police's actions in detail.
The Riverdale Police Department did not offer a motive for the shooting but confirmed that it was not a random act. The investigation into the incident was ongoing, with authorities gathering more information to understand the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.
