Incident Overview
A 16-year-old, Lazarus Ward, has been charged as an adult with felony first-degree murder in the death of retired Chicago Police Department (CPD) officer Reverend Larry Newman.
Background of the Suspect
Ward was on home confinement prior to the incident. His electronic monitoring was vacated, and he was placed on home confinement shortly before the alleged murder.
Details of the Murder
The shooting occurred on Saturday morning outside Newman’s home. Newman, 73, was preparing to pay a man who had just cut his lawn when two individuals wearing ski masks approached. Newman pushed the worker out of harm’s way and retrieved his firearm. The assailants then began firing, striking Newman in the chest and arm.
Victim Profile
Reverend Larry Newman was a Marine veteran, a retired CPD officer with 30 years of service, and a minister at Saint Michael Church.
Identification and Charges
Four witnesses, familiar with Ward from the neighborhood and school, identified him from multiple video surveillance stills taken during the murder. Prosecutors also linked Ward to at least three other crimes involving stolen vehicles, including a high-speed chase with Illinois State Police.
Community and Legal Response
The incident highlights concerns about early intervention for young people involved in violent behavior. Authorities stress the importance of addressing such behavior to prevent future violent crimes.
Ongoing Investigation
Police are still working to apprehend the second suspect involved in the shooting. Both suspects graduated from the same elementary school on the city’s West Side.
Funeral Arrangements
Newman’s funeral services are scheduled for the upcoming Friday and Saturday.
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Current Status
The latest updates were reported from outside CPD’s headquarters at 35th and Michigan by Nate Rogers from Fox 32, Chicago.