DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Naperville Interim Chief of Police Jason Arres announced Friday, September 3, 2021 that bond has been set for two individuals charged with first-degree murder following an altercation in a Naperville parking lot Sunday afternoon, August 29, 2021.
Robert Chatman-Jones, age 20 (born December 25, 2000) of the block of 300 24th Street, Bellwood, and Desire Gray, age 19 (born May 12, 2002) of the block of 1900 Ashwood Lane, Aurora, each appeared at a bond hearing Friday morning where Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh set bond at $4 million with 10% to apply for Robert Chatman-Jones and $1.5 million with 10% to apply for Desire Gray. Both suspects have been charged with one count of First-Degree Murder, one count of Aggravated Battery – Discharge of a Firearm (Class X Felony) and one count of Attempt Armed Robbery – Discharged Firearm (Class 1 Felony).
Naperville police officers responded aout 2:11 p.m. on Sunday, August 29, 2021 to a call of shots fired in a parking lot located on Amersale Drive. Upon their arrival, officers located two .40 caliber shell casings and more than $100 cash in the parking lot. While at the scene, the officers were notified that the Aurora Police Department had located a vehicle with two gunshot victims inside the vehicle at McCoy Drive and Vaughn Road. One victim had been shot in the left leg and the other victim, later identified as Coreon Davis, had been shot in the head and his left hand. Both individuals were transported to a local hospital for medical attention. Davis was later transported to Loyola Hospital where he subsequently died.
Allegedly Davis and the second individual went to the parking lot on Amersale to sell a gun to Chatman-Jones, and upon their arrival at the parking lot, a man, later identified as Chatman-Jones exited a vehicle and approached their vehicle. Allegedly when Chatman-Jones gave Davis money for the gun, Davis, who remained in the vehicle, told Chatman-Jones that he was “short” on the amount of money the two had agree upon to complete the transaction. Allegedly a struggle between Davis and Chatman-Jones began, and simultaneously Chapman-Jones discharged a weapon, striking the two occupants of the vehicle. According to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, allegedly both the victims’ in the shooting victims’ vehicle, and Chatman-Jones and Gray fled the scene in their vehicle at immediately after the shooting.
Following an investigation into the murder of gun seller Coreon Davis led by the Naperville Police Department, Chatman-Jones and Gray were taken into custody without incident the following day from an Aurora apartment complex parking lot.
“I commend the Naperville Police Department for their truly exceptional police work that enabled us to take these defendants into custody just one day after the murder. Illegal gun sales and the violence that can erupt from such transactions, as is alleged in this case, will not be tolerated in DuPage County. Considering this violence allegedly occurred in a heavily populated commercial district in the middle of a Sunday afternoon, we are very grateful no innocent bystanders were injured. I would also like to thank the Aurora Police Department and investigators from the DuPage M.E.R.I.T. Major Crimes Unit for their assistance in this investigation. To the family and friends of Mr. Davis, I offer my condolences as they mourn this senseless loss of life. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorney Kristin Sullivan for her efforts in securing charges against these two defendants.”
— DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin
“The Naperville Police Department has no tolerance for gun violence in our community and will relentlessly pursue anyone who commits such a reckless and dangerous act in our city. We are deeply troubled by the loss of life in this instance, but to have someone in custody in this case within twenty-four hours is a testament to the great work of our investigations personnel and their dedication to the citizens of Naperville. Not only did our investigators catch the offenders, they also took a number of illegal firearms off the street during this investigation. In addition to thanking our personnel for their relentless work, I would also like to thank the Aurora Police Department and DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office for their outstanding assistance with this investigation. Their assistance and collaboration were critical to this overall investigation.”
— Interim Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres
Chatman-Jones’s and Gray’s next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, September 28, 2021, for arraignment in front of Judge O’Hallaren Walsh. According to the DuPage County State’s Attorney, members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Earlier Release
Police from Naperville responded about 2:11 p.m., Sunday, August 29, 2021 to a report of shots fired in the block of 600 Amersale Drive in Naperville just west of the intersection of Aurora Road and Route 59. A short time later police, firefighters and paramedics responded to the area of McCoy Drive and Vaughn Drive in Aurora to a call for help from shooting victims.
Two shooting victims were located by Aurora Police a short distance from the area of the initial call and transported to local hospitals by Aurora Fire Department paramedics, according to Naperville Police Department. The intersection of Vaughn Road and McCoy Road in Aurora is about 2.5 miles southwest of the block of 600 Amersale Drive in Naperville. The initial investigation indicates that the parties agreed to meet at the location of the shooting to make a transaction and got into an altercation. According to Naperville Police Department, the exact relationship between the offender and victims, and the nature of the transaction remain under investigation.
According to Naperville Police Department, the current medical conditions of the two shooting victims are as follows: 1) an 18-year-old male victim from Naperville is in critical condition and 2) a 17-year-old male from Aurora was treated at a local hospital and released.
The offender fled in a dark colored sedan in an unknown direction of travel. He is described as a male, black, in his 20’s.
The Naperville Police Department is seeking anyone who saw or heard anything about this incident. Additionally, we are asking any person or business that has surveillance video in the area to contact the Naperville Police Department.Citizens with information regarding this investigation are encouraged to contact the Naperville Police Department at 630-420-6665 and ask for the Investigations Division.
Stay informed with news from The Cardinal’s Emergencies Behind the Scenes Facebook page — Facebook.com/CardinalEmergencies. Includes links to favorite public safety and emergency rescuers and product manufacturers and safety companies that have facebook pages. Submit your pictures or just stay up-to-date on with fire, rescue, EMS and police photo galleries. Please add your public safety photo to the wall album — go direct to the Arlington Cardinal Emergencies Behind the Scenes photos. For a list of all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages, go to Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
Help fund The Cardinal Arlingtoncardinal.com/sponsor