(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Friends, neighbors and concerned residents came out to a vigil on Sunday for two boys recovering from an attack that left their mother dead last week in Greater Grand Crossing.
Pastor Eli Washington from Park Manor Christian Church helped lead the vigil for the 8 and 11-year-old boys of Teone Jones.
Her 8-year-old son was reported missing after he was abducted in the same block where Jones was killed, Illinois State Police said. An Amber Alert was issued 40 minutes after Jones was killed. The alert was canceled early Friday after the boy was found in the 8200 block of South Damen Avenue.
The 11-year-old was found by police in the 200 block of West 66th Street.
"These kids are going to be traumatized for the rest of their natural lives. We need to support these kids and support this community," Washington said.
Police say the boys were stabbed and kidnapped, and their mother was fatally stabbed Thursday night in their home near 71st Street and Eberhart Avenue.
The children have been through surgery since Friday. One of the boys is on a breathing tube, and the other is awake but still recovering from his wounds, said Darlene Tribue, president of the Park Manor Neighbors Community Council, at a prayer vigil outside the family’s home Sunday.
The boys had already lost their father to a heart attack, Malik Wilson, one of Jones’ brothers, previously told the Sun-Times.
Marcus Bausley, 39, was arrested Friday in Merrillville, Indiana. He faces attempted murder, aggravated kidnapping and other charges.
Washington said the suspect in custody was believed to be Jones’ ex-boyfriend.
After saying prayers at Sunday’s vigil, community members, local Ald. William Hall (6th) and Grand Crossing District police officers canvassed the area, passing out informational cards with resources for anyone experiencing domestic violence.
Because the community members believed the attacker was Jones’ ex-boyfriend, they wanted to ensure anyone experiencing domestic violence knows that help is available, Hall said.
Hall said he’s also added discussion of the stabbings and how to protect people from domestic violence to his ward’s upcoming community meeting, set for noon-2 p.m. Monday at Hamilton Park, 513 W. 72nd St.
Hall is coordinating with the mayor’s office and volunteers throughout the community to make sure that all people have resources available to them if they’re experiencing domestic violence.
“We want to not only be on the preventative side of this issue, we don’t want to be on the reactionary one,” Hall said. “So we will go door by door, letting every young woman, every young girl in this ward know that you should and you can be safe in this ward.”
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
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