The son of one of two people shot and killed Saturday night on Jackson Court in Richton Park has been charged in their deaths, according to court documents.
Javonte D. Morris, 21, faces two counts of first-degree murder, with court documents alleging he killed his mother, 38-year-old Nivia Phillips, and her boyfriend, 45-year-old Marcus T. Jones, after Phillips tried to kick him out of her apartment. The victims were identified by the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Both were found unresponsive in Phillips’ apartment and pronounced dead at about 8:40 p.m. Saturday. The cause of death was listed as multiple gunshot wounds.
Court documents state Jones began telling Phillips’ cousin Friday, via text, that Morris had threatened Phillips’ life, “talking about he will smoke her.” Later that evening, Phillips allegedly texted the cousin that she was frustrated with Morris and intended to “put him out of the house,” while the cousin said she should have called the police.
Phillips texted the cousin again Saturday, according to court documents, saying Morris was talking about shooting her. During a subsequent call, the cousin reported hearing Morris threaten Phillips’ life, rack a firearm and say if police came, there would be a shootout, prosecutors said.
Phillips allegedly called 911 at 6:30 p.m., with Morris calling 911 himself two minutes later, reporting a shooting at the residence but not saying he was the shooter, prosecutors said. He left the apartment and was found standing behind a garage less than a mile away on Canterbury Court, prosecutors said.
Morris’ 4-year-old uninjured child was found hiding under a table at Phillips’ apartment and told police that her dad shot her grandmother and Jones after an argument, prosecutors said. The child told police Morris and Phillips were yelling at each other because Phillips was going to kick Morris out of the house, prosecutors said.
Police also found five shell casings in a bedroom and a pistol in the living room, court documents say. Morris was ordered to be detained while awaiting trial. The next court hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 21 at the Cook County courthouse in Markham, 16501 S. Kedzie Pkwy.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com