CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - A 37-year-old man with an extensive criminal past has been charged in what police described as a "brutal attack" that killed a young boy and critically injured his pregnant mother earlier this week.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling, joined by other police leaders and Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, announced first-degree murder charges against Crosetti Brand, 37 in the death of Jayden Perkins, 11.
"This is something that should've never happened," Snelling said.
Snelling confirmed reports that the man had been paroled from prison the day before the attack and that the wounded mother had an order of protection against Brand.
Brand is a convicted felon, Snelling said, who was paroled while still serving a 16-year sentence for home invasion and aggravated assault.
"Where is the outrage?" Snelling asked. "There are a lot of things that people have shown outrage for in this city, but an 11-year-old lost his life, brutally, a woman stabbed, brutally, in a domestic attack, where is the outrage for this family?"
According to Chicago Police Deputy Chief of Detectives Antoinette Ursitti, Brand was in a prior relationship with the female victim more than 15 years ago and had a history of domestic abuse.
Brand was released on electronic monitoring in October but violated his parole after sending a threatening text message to the woman as well as showing up at her home. Ursitti said Brand was sent back to prison last month.
Brand was released again, police said, on March 12. The next day, he returned to the victim's apartment in the 5900 block of N. Ravenswood and attacked the woman. Ursitti said Brand not only stabbed the female victim multiple times but also fatally stabbed her 11-year-old son. The woman's 5-year-old son was present at the time of the attack but was not hurt.
Police said video evidence revealed Brand running away from the scene, carrying a knife. Detectives later recovered the weapon.
After several tips, police were able to find Brind several hours later at his home on the South Side and arrested him.
Along with murder, Brand faces numerous other felony charges, including attempted murder, home invasion, armed robbery, domestic battery, unlawful use of a weapon, violating an order of protection and violating parole.
"This was not just a vicious and violent attack on an 11-year-old boy," Foxx said. "It was an assault on the very fabric of our community, targeting the most vulnerable among us. An innocent child's life was taken to try and protect his mother, and a mother was attacked where should have been the safest place for her, which was her home."
The female victim had a lifetime order of protection against Brand, who the superintendent believes should not have been paroled from prison.
"He violated parole. He violated an order of protection, and it involved the same type of crime that he was paroled for. This is someone who should not have been on the street," Snelling said.
Foxx was asked if the public should have confidence in the justice system if someone like Brand can be released on parole.
"We would hope incidents like this are rare," she responded.
"This is horrific and we need to do an evaluation in this case particularly and others to ensure there were no gaps in the justice system that would allow for a dangerous offender to commit the acts that he did."
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