Chicago Man Sentenced in 2014 Kidnapping and Shooting Case
A Chicago man has been sentenced to 98 years in prison for kidnapping his ex-girlfriend’s children and then shooting and seriously injuring her and one of her relatives in the parking lot of a suburban shopping mall, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.
Everett Harris, 32, was previously found guilty of two counts of Attempt First Degree Murder and one count each of Aggravated Kidnapping and Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking.
According to prosecutors, on November 13, 2014 Harris, armed with a gun, forcefully took his ex-girlfriend’s car, which contained her two children who were ages six and four. The ex-girlfriend immediately reported the incident to Chicago Police and then contacted several family members and friends who gathered to help her find Harris and her children.
According to prosecutors, Harris made several phone calls to his ex-girlfriend, threatening to harm her children and alluding to his possible location. After searching one mall, the ex-girlfriend and her family and friends arrived at the Harlem Irving Plaza in Norridge. One of the individuals exited a vehicle to enter the mall and search for Harris. The others, who were in two vehicles, drove around the parking lot to search for Harris. The group eventually saw the ex-girlfriend’s car, with Harris driving and the children inside. When Harris pulled into a parking spot, one of the individuals pulled his van directly behind Harris.
According to prosecutors, the ex-girlfriend approached her car carrying a hammer and demanded that Harris return her children. The driver of the van parked behind Harris followed her and other members of the group began exiting their vehicle. A verbal confrontation ensued and the ex-girlfriend struck Harris in the arm with the hammer. The driver of the van intervened and separated Harris and the ex-girlfriend, at which time Harris produced a semiautomatic handgun and shot the individual who intervened in the groin.
Harris’ gun jammed after the first shot and as he attempted to unjam it, he walked around the car and began kicking his ex-girlfriend and her friend in the face and head. Harris unjammed the gun and fired four shots at the two people on the ground, shooting his ex-girlfriend once in the shoulder and head and twice in the arm. The other individual was not shot. Harris then kicked both individuals several more times before driving off in the van that was parked behind the ex-girlfriend’s car.
After a high speed chase, Harris crashed the van into another car and was apprehended by Chicago Police. The gun used in the shootings was recovered in the van he had just crashed.
Cook County Judge James Karahalios imposed the 98-year sentence during a hearing at the Cook County Courthouse in Rolling Meadows.
State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Karen Crothers and Susanne Groebner and the Chicago Police Department for their work in this case.
