'I'll Smoke You And Your Kids': 2 Charged With Murder In Killing Of 9-Year-Old In Skokie

SKOKIE, IL — A man and a boy have been charged with first-degree murder in the May 14 killing of 9-year-old Jeremiah Ellis and the wounding of his 5-year-old relative in Skokie.

Richard Banks, 22, of the 1500 block of Jonquil Terrace, Chicago, and Christian Anderson, 16, of the 7300 block of North Damen Avenue, Chicago, appeared in court for the first time Thursday in Skokie, where they were denied bail.

Anderson appeared remotely from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Chicago. Authorities said a female accomplice, so far identified only as "co-offender one," is in custody, with charges expected to be filed Friday.

Investigators believe the children were targeted in retaliation for a fatal August 2021 expressway shooting, according to prosecutors.

"Co-offender one," the girlfriend of the person killed in the shooting, is believed to have been seeking revenge for his death, and police were shown a threatening social media message she allegedly sent family members of the young victims, according to Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Mary McMahon.

"Co-offender One posted, 'Ho, I'll smoke you and your kids, yeah b----, I said your kids,'" McMahon said.

The trio repeatedly cased the scene of the shooting, traveled there together with multiple guns and "fired a hailstorm of bullets in the television room" where the two boys were lying on the ground, according to McMahon.

Ellis had been visiting his grandparents on the night of his death after celebrating his 9th birthday three days earlier, according to the prosecutor and the description of an online fundraiser on behalf of his family.

"Jeremiah is loved for his caring heart, bright smile, big hugs, and constant dancing," it said. "He left an impression on everyone he met and he will be deeply missed."

Banks and Anderson fired 35 shots into the ground floor window of a home in the 4700 block of Main Street from a gangway outside, the prosecutor said. Ellis was shot 11 times. The 5-year-old was shot in his foot.

McMahon said investigators found clusters of 20 bullet holes on one side and 15 on the other, along with 20 spent 9 mm cartridges and 15 fired .40-caliber cartridges.

The prosecutor cited video evidence, cell phone data, license plate reader images, witness statements and statements by Banks and Anderson themselves in requesting that they be denied bail.

Anderson was arrested on an unrelated case on May 19, McMahon said. Investigators got a search warrant for his phone and found he had Googled "Skokie shooting" seven hours after the killing.

Police also recovered text messages exchanges including conversations with "co-offender one" about bleaching a gun and car and a screenshot of the Skokie Police Department news release about the killing, according to the prosecutor.

"[Anderson] sent a text message to his aunt on May 17 asking her if she would look at him differently if she knew that he had killed someone," McMahon said. "[Anderson] texted an acquaintance on May 17, stating that he could not sleep seeing their faces every time he closes his eyes."

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After waiving his right to remain silent, Banks admitted traveling to the crime scene, being present in the alley at the time of the shooting, fleeing after the shooting and that Anderson was armed at the time they were together at the scene of the shooting, according to McMahon.

In February, Anderson admitted guilt in juvenile court to charges of armed robbery, reckless discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, according to prosecutors and court staff, who said he was sentenced to home confinement in that case. He is being tried as an adult, as is required under state law in first-degree murder cases, on the new charges in Skokie.

Both Banks and Anderson have been charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm. They are due back in court June 16, where prosecutors said the two would likely be indicted.

After hearing arguments from attorneys for both defendants that the evidence was insufficient to deny bond, Cook County Associate Judge Frank Andreu ordered both to be detained ahead of trial without bail. He ruled that the proof was evident and presumption great that Banks and Anderson had "plural culpability" for the deadly shooting and pose a present threat to others.

"I don't know if the vendetta is done yet," Andreu said. "There is a real threat to the remaining members of this family."

UPDATE: Mastermind Of Murder Of 9-Year-Old In Skokie Charged: Prosecutors