Andre Shearer, a 55-year-old man from Evanston, Illinois, was fatally shot on the night of February 23, 2025, in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. The incident occurred around 9:45 p.m. on North Damen Avenue, where Shearer was found with gunshot wounds to the neck and head. He was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he was pronounced dead.
Another victim, a 31-year-old man, was also critically wounded in the attack, suffering gunshot injuries to the chest and both legs. He was taken to the same hospital for treatment.
Authorities swiftly identified and arrested a suspect in connection with the shooting. Cleophus Rufus, a 33-year-old man from Chicago’s West Ridge neighborhood, was taken into custody less than an hour after the incident. Rufus was charged with first-degree murder for the killing of Shearer, as well as first-degree attempted murder and aggravated battery for the attack on the second victim. Police have not disclosed a motive for the shooting, but Rufus was scheduled to appear for a detention hearing on the following Wednesday.
Shearer’s death marks another tragic instance of gun violence in Chicago, a city that continues to grapple with crime in various neighborhoods. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation, and authorities are working to determine whether additional suspects were involved. Community members have expressed concern over the violence, calling for increased safety measures and justice for the victims.
