Crime
Video shows moments 20-year-old Jessica Hendricks stabbed to death in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood
Chicago police are investigating a fatal stabbing that occurred in the early hours of December 27, 2024, in the 5300 block of West Chicago Avenue, in the Austin neighborhood on the city’s West Side.
At approximately 12:15 a.m., a 20-year-old woman, identified as Jessica Hendricks, was fatally injured during a confrontation with another 20-year-old woman outside a residence.
According to preliminary reports, Hendricks approached the other woman, leading to a physical altercation.
Both women sustained injuries from a sharp object during the altercation.
Hendricks was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased from her injuries.
The second woman involved suffered multiple lacerations to her arm and was taken to West Suburban Hospital in stable condition.
She was later placed into police custody.
Area Four detectives are actively investigating the incident.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the motive for the altercation or further details regarding the circumstances leading to the fatal encounter.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact Area Four detectives or submit anonymous tips via Chicago Police Department’s tip lines.
This tragic event underscores the importance of community vigilance and cooperation in ensuring public safety. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.