Community under seige

City of Zion became a community in turmoil following the killing of a 16-year-old gang member attempting to burglarize a home.

Only the homeowners were Muslim and led to significant outcry within the small city near the Illinois/Wisconsin stateline and consequently the homeowners became a target of threats.

Zion Police opted to not file charges against the couple citing self-defense and protection of personal property.

Leaders within the city stepped up and became activists and eventually concluded with a citizen discussion to mend the fences at a town hall meeting.

My reports were picked up off the SunTimes NewsGroup wire service and published in the parent newspaper, the Chicago Sun-Times.

Most bizarre in the case would be the father of the shooting victim returned to Zion following years of living in Baltimore, Md.

During the ensuing outcry of violent threats against the couple and investigation of gang members, the father sent me multiple items through the mail including his police report dating back 20 years.

One of the notes included in the bulk mailing asked me to contact him by phone to discuss any issues he had with the article. All he said was to report that "Shorty" is back in town.

Due to increased tension I handed over the developing stories to another reporter to minimize future contact. The reporter indicated to me later the father was not happy with what was written in my report.

Police, Muslim community address threats

December 5, 2006

Jason Arndt

SunTimes NewsGroup

jarndt@scn1.com

ZION--The City of Zion is working to quash the recent threats to a local Muslim family following a home invasion during which a 16-year-old alleged gang member was killed.

Zion police are reaching out to Muslim groups in the area to prevent any potential hate crimes arising out of the incident. A town hall meeting will be held next week where Zion officials and members of the Muslim community will work with the public to bring a better understanding of the Muslim faith.

"The Zion Police Department has been one of the most helpful on all levels," said Hasan Hakeem, President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. "The Police Department has assured us that the (Sharif and Saffiyya) Darr family would not be harmed."

In addition to working with the Muslim community, police are also utilizing its gang unit to determine
the source of the threats, said Police Chief Doug Malcolm.

Gerrell Davis was shot and killed Friday night as the 16-year-old was allegedly attempting to enter the
Jethro Avenue home to steal merchandise from the Darr's online eBay business.

The couple and their relatives have been subjected to online and telephone death threats since the incident.

Zion Police did not issue any charges against Saffiyya Darr because they say she was defending herself, her home and property.

For more details on the Darr's harrowing experience and the upcoming town hall meeting, pick up
Wednesday's edition of the News-Sun and check out our Web site.

Family threatened after killing young intruder

December 7, 2006

By Jason Arndt

SunTimes NewsGroup

  

Police have arrested a 16-year-old youth in connection with a fatal home invasion in far north suburban Zion last Friday.

The juvenile expected to be charged in the case is being held at the Depke Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills, Police Chief Doug Malcolm said Wednesday.

He would not discuss if the teen was an alleged accomplice of Gerrell Davis, who was shot and killed as he entered the home of Sharif and Saffiyya Darr in an attempt to steal shoes from the couple's eBay business.

Davis, also 16, had his face covered with a ski mask and brandished a .22-caliber rifle when he entered the Darrs' home.

Malcolm said police are continuing to investigate the case after the couple and their relatives were subjected to death threats online and through the telephone.

Hasan Hakeem, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, believes the community has been brought together during this situation.

"The police have been very supportive of the Darr family, and the community has reached out to them," Malcolm said.

CeaseFire, a violence prevention program overseen by Waukegan Township, has also been working to stop any retaliation against the couple.

Masked juvenile forced way into couple's house with rifle

Homeowner fatally shoots armed teen

December 4, 2006

By Jason Arndt

jarndt@scn1.com

The News-Sun

ZION-Sixteen-year-old Gerrall N. Davis of Zion, wearing a ski mask and black knit gloves and carrying a .22-caliber rifle, was shot twice and killed after he broke into a house at 1721 Jethro Ave. 

Police Chief Douglas Malcolm said residents Saffiyya A. Darr and her husband heard knocking on their front door about 10 p.m. They yelled out, asking who it was. Several minutes later, they heard a loud sound at their back door.

Saffiyya retrieved a 9 mm handgun from her bedroom and fired two shots, hitting Davis once in the shoulder and once in the abdomen.

Police arrived at the scene at 10:15 p.m. and found Davis lying on the kitchen floor with the rifle and wearing a black ski mask.

Zion Fire and Rescue took Davis to Vista Medical Center East, Waukegan, where he was pronounced dead at midnight by emergency room personnel.

"The gunshot to the abdomen was the fatal wound," Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller said after an autopsy.

According to Malcolm, the Darrs had no connection with the intruder.

Evidence technicians found that the door had been forced open and the doorjamb shattered, Malcolm said.

"The investigation is still ongoing, but as far as we know, no charges have been filed against Darr," Malcolm said. "If you are sitting at home at night and someone kicks the door open, you have the right to defend yourself."

Malcolm said Davis was placed on juvenile probation in 2005 for aggravated battery.

Police expect to release information today or Tuesday regarding the licensing of both weapons involved in the incident.

Correspondent A.J. Goldsmith contributed to this report.