A Chicago man has been charged in the slaying of Shaoxiong “Dennis” Zheng, a recent University of Chicago graduate who was fatally shot Tuesday in the 900 block of East 54th Place, Chicago police said.
Alton Spann, 18, of the 6500 block of South Maryland Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, police said.
Spann, who was also wanted on a warrant, is due in court Saturday.
On Nov. 9, at about 1:50 p.m., Zheng was walking home from campus when he was approached by Spann, according to Deputy Chief Rahman Muhammad, who addressed reporters Friday night at police headquarters. Spann announced a robbery and shot Zheng once in the torso before taking his electronics, according to Muhammad.
POD cameras, campus cameras and private cameras captured Spann entering a running black Ford Mustang that fled west on 54th Place.
That vehicle was reported stolen from Markham on Nov. 3, according to Muhammad. It was tracked by POD cameras, license plate readers, and private video surveillance cameras. Spann was identified through these videos.
The video shows Spann leaving the Mustang that was parked in a lot on Nov. 10, according to Muhammad. He then went into a store and at approximately 6 p.m., Spann was located and stopped in the vicinity of North Avenue and Sedgwick Street at the Marshall Field Garden Apartments.
When stopped, Spann had two firearms and a Ford Mustang key fob.
Muhammad said sources from the video along with witnesses confirmed that Spann was driving the vehicle and fled to several locations, including a cellphone store, where he sold Zheng’s personal items for about $100.
Spann was also shown in the video with the same gun that he had when police stopped him, which was confirmed to be the one used to shoot Zheng.
Superintendent David Brown, who also spoke at the briefing, said Spann recently turned 18 and does not have any criminal history as an adult.
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“Right now he is the only person charged, right now we are tying up some loose ends,” Brown said, adding that they are still investigating if anyone else was involved.
Brown said that in response to the uptick of violence CPD has seen in the first part of November, neighborhoods, including Hyde Park, will be getting additional resources.
At the University of Chicago, Brown said CPD will be providing increased resources, foot patrol, video cameras outside campus and a plan to pay for more license plate readers.
“We are still investigating this crime so if the public has any information leading up to this crime, or any crime, please contact our anonymous tip hotline at 833-408-0069,” Muhammad said.