Crime
Yoseph Barnes charged with attempted murder after shooting at Walmart in Evergreen Park
EVERGREEN PARK, Ill. — Authorities in Evergreen Park have charged 20-year-old Yoseph Barnes of Chicago in connection with a shooting that injured two people Wednesday afternoon at a Walmart located at 2500 West 95th Street.
According to the Evergreen Park Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:56 p.m. to reports of an active shooter outside the store.
Upon arrival, officers located two victims — a 23-year-old man who sustained a gunshot wound to the leg, and a 70-year-old woman who was struck in the foot.
Both victims were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment; the man’s condition remains undisclosed, while the woman was listed in good condition, police said.
Investigators determined that as the male victim was arriving at the store, Barnes exited a vehicle and pursued the victim on foot, firing multiple rounds in his direction.
The incident appeared to be targeted, police said, though the motive remains under investigation.
Witnesses reported that the suspect fled the scene in a gray Hyundai, prompting a coordinated search involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
A short time later, officers located and apprehended Barnes in the 9300 block of Country Club Drive.
Following his arrest, Barnes was formally charged with attempted murder. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, authorities confirmed.
The Evergreen Park Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances of the shooting and is reviewing surveillance footage from the area.
Crime
Cause of Death for 6-Month-Old Nnakai Pratt as Blunt Force Trauma After Discovered Inside Trash Bag
CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Clayton County Police Department has confirmed that 6-month-old Nnakai Pratt died from blunt force trauma, and the infant’s body was found discarded inside a trash bag during a three-day search that ended in tragedy.
According to authorities, the child’s remains were discovered on Tuesday, October 14, in the backyard of a home off Green Valley Road.
The discovery came after an intense search that began when police were initially called to investigate a reported robbery and kidnapping on Sunday, October 12, at 100 Valley Hill Road in Riverdale.
When officers arrived, they met Antonio Pearce, the child’s father, who claimed that he had been robbed at gunpoint and that his infant son had been taken by the alleged assailants.
Pearce told investigators the incident occurred at what he described as a “stash house,” where he said he had three pounds of marijuana and over $6,000 in cash.
He also stated that Nnakai, his twin sister, and their mother, Necollete Pratt, were present at the time of the alleged abduction.
As the investigation progressed, detectives noted inconsistencies in Pearce’s account.
Police later confirmed that Pearce had fabricated key parts of his story. Following extensive interviews and searches, investigators discovered the infant’s body, confirming their worst fears.
During a press conference on Friday, October 17, police revealed that the infant had sustained fatal blunt force injuries before being placed in a trash bag and abandoned. Both parents were subsequently arrested and charged in connection with the child’s death.
Necollete Pratt was charged with obstructing an officer, making false statements, cruelty to children in the first degree, concealing a death, and party to the commission of a crime.
In court on Friday, the judge denied bond on the felony charges but granted $5,000 bond for the misdemeanor obstruction charge. Pratt is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on November 12 at 8:30 a.m.
Antonio Pearce, the father, faces an extensive list of charges, including malice murder, cruelty to children, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, concealing the death of another person, unlawful disposal of a human body, false statements, and false report of a crime.
Police said Pearce’s repeated lies and inconsistent statements during questioning led investigators to uncover the truth and ultimately locate the child’s body. In court, he was denied bond on the most serious felony charges, including murder and aggravated assault, but was granted a $10,000 bond for the misdemeanor count of filing a false report. Pearce is expected to appear in court for his preliminary hearing on November 10 at 8:30 a.m.
Authorities continue to investigate the full circumstances surrounding the death of baby Nnakai, calling it one of the most heartbreaking and disturbing cases the department has handled in recent years.