Man, 21, Fatally Shot Mother And Her Boyfriend While Daughter, 4, Watched: Prosecutor

RICHTON PARK, IL — A man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of his mother and her boyfriend inside a Richton Park apartment Dec. 27.

Javonte Morris, 21, is accused of fatally shooting Nivia Phillips, 38, and her boyfriend Marcus Jones, 45, after Phillips reportedly threatened to evict Morris from the apartment in the 22500 block of Jackson Court.

A 4-year-old girl—later confirmed to be Morris' daughter—was found unharmed, hiding near her toys under a table at the scene, according to a proffer from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.

A day before the shooting, Jones texted Phillips' cousin, stating that Morris had threatened his mother's life, according to court documents. Later that same evening, Phillips reportedly told her cousin that she intended to kick Morris out of the apartment.

The day of the shooting, the cousin could hear Morris in the background of a phone call with Phillips, reportedly threatening to kill her. Morris is alleged to have said "if the police come there will be a shootout," prosecutors said.

The cousin could also hear a firearm being racked, and at 6:35 p.m., called 911, prosecutors said. Police were dispatched a minute later, and a minute after that, Morris reportedly called 911 to report the shooting, but did not identify himself as the alleged shooter.

Officials said he then fled the apartment, and was found behind a garage in the 3800 block of Canterbury Court.

According to court documents, during a forensics interview, Morris' daughter told police that her father had shot her grandmother—known to her as "Gigi"—and the woman's boyfriend following a confrontation between the three. Phillips had told Morris that she was "going to put him out of the house," the girl told police, and then he shot both people, the prosecutor said.

The girl recounted to police that she had pulled a blanket off her grandmother and saw "leaking blood," and that Jones was "breathing really hard and leaking blood out of his mouth," according to the proffer.

When the police arrived, both victims were found unresponsive and were pronounced dead at 8:39 p.m. The Cook County Medical Examiner ruled both deaths homicides caused by multiple gunshot wounds.

Four projectiles were recovered from the victims, officials said. Officers recovered five shell casings from the bedroom and a .380 Smith & Wesson Bodyguard firearm from the living room, according to court documents.

Morris remains in custody of the Cook County Sheriff. His next court date is set for Jan. 21, 2026, according to online records.