On March 5, 2023, at approximately 5:12 a.m., Glenview police responded to a report of a person shot and not breathing at the Motel 6 located at 1535 Milwaukee Avenue in Glenview, Illinois. Upon arrival, officers found 27-year-old Aliyaha Frierson of Chicago suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite attempts at life-saving measures by paramedics, Frierson was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:55 a.m..
The investigation led to the arrest of Melvin Trimble, a 37-year-old resident of Chicago, who was taken into custody without incident shortly after police arrived. A firearm was recovered at the scene. Trimble was charged with one count of first-degree murder in connection with Frierson's death. He was arrested and charged at 1:47 a.m. on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.
Trimble and Frierson had a history of an on-again, off-again and reportedly tumultuous relationship. According to prosecutors, guests at the motel heard a gunshot followed by a woman screaming. Trimble allegedly waited 45 minutes to call 911, during which time he made other calls, including to his mother and one of the mothers of his children. When he finally called 911, he told the operator that he had gotten into a "tussle" with his girlfriend.
At the bond hearing held on March 7, 2023, at the Cook County Circuit Court in Skokie, Associate Judge Anthony John Calabrese denied the state's request for no bond, instead setting bail at $500,000. The judge noted that while there was a history of abuse and a significant delay in calling 911, the state did not meet the burden of proving evident proof or great presumption of guilt worthy of denying bond. Trimble was ordered to have no contact with any witnesses, past domestic violence victims, or the family of Aliyaha Frierson.
The investigation was conducted by the Glenview Police Department with assistance from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the North Regional Violent Crimes Task Force. Trimble is currently incarcerated at the Cook County Jail and has several prior convictions, including charges related to armed habitual criminal activity, drug dealing, and armed robbery.
The case was continued to March 21, 2023, for indictment, and Trimble's next court date was scheduled at the Criminal Court Building in Chicago. Police have described the shooting as an isolated incident with no known threat to the public.
