RAVENSWOOD — An 11-year-old boy was killed while trying to protect his pregnant mother from a domestic abuser with a knife at their door — a man who shouldn’t have been out on parole, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said at a press conference Friday.
Crosetti Brand, 37, was charged Friday with nine felony counts, including first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, in the Wednesday morning home invasion in which 11-year-old Jayden Perkins was killed, his pregnant mother critically wounded and a 5-year-old sibling left with lasting trauma, police said.
Snelling, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and other high-ranking police officials said they did not understand why Brand, who has a record of domestic abuse and orders of protection against him, was put out twice on parole by court judges leading up to the fatal attack.
Brand, a convicted felon, had served about half of a 16-year sentence for home invasion and aggravated assault when he was paroled with an electric monitor in October, Chief of Detectives Antoinette Ursitti said.
In that case, Brand had forced his way into the home of another ex-girlfriend, attacking her and her son while they were cooking dinner, according to the Sun-Times.
After being released on parole, Brand sent the pregnant woman threatening text messages and showed up at her home in February, Ursitti said. The woman then sought an emergency protection order and was denied, according to the Sun-Times. That was three weeks ago.
Brand was sent back to prison within that time for a parole violation — but was again released on parole Tuesday, Ursetti said.
The next day, Brand showed up at the pregnant woman’s Ravenswood home and fatally stabbed her son, Ursitti said. Brand and the woman had been in a relationship more than 15 years ago, Ursitti said.
Police responded to 911 calls around 8 a.m. Wednesday at the apartment building in the 5900 block of North Ravenswood Avenue, where they found the boy and his mother had been attacked, police previously said.
Jayden was stabbed in his upper chest, cutting his carotid artery and killing him, prosecutors said.
The suspect was seen running with the knife police say was used in the incident, Ursetti said. He was taken into custody hours after the stabbing.
Brand has a history of violating protective orders, police said.
It remains unclear why Brand was sent back to prison in February only to be released again weeks later.
“Let me start by saying this should have never happened,” Snelling said. “When we’re talking about someone who engages in vicious acts of violence … those people should be held.”
Foxx said with domestic violence offenders who end up on parole, electronic monitors are typically used and feature a GPS system to track if they come “in proximity” of victims.
Foxx said she “did not believe” Brand had a monitor on at the time of the crime.
“This was a person determined to do what he did,” Foxx said. “It’s very difficult to say the system can stop bad people from doing bad things … there are questions here that need to be examined.”
Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) said over 80 children came to a vigil for 11-year-old Jayden Perkins outside the home, a testament to his popularity at his school, Peirce Elementary, and among his dance troupe at Gus Giordano Dance School. Foxx said her friend’s daughter knew Jayden.
“In a moment he’s trying to get to school, door opens, and he does what anyone would do, try to defend his mother,” Vasquez said. “It’s an attack on not just a family, but a whole community … this is a tough city to live in some days.”
Jayden’s school communities and parents have launched an online fundraiser in support of the family. Jayden’s younger brother is a student at Peirce and his mother had worked at the school before “transitioning to the medical field,” according to the fundraiser.
“Jayden was a cherished member of both the Peirce Elementary and Gus Giordano communities. He was known for his love of spending time with friends, playing sports, and performing. His infectious laughter and kind heart touched the lives of everyone he met,” the campaign page read.
The mother is recovering and has talked with detectives, Snelling said. She and her baby are expected to survive, prosecutors said in court Friday.
“She’s still here,” Snelling said. “This highlights the suffering that this woman has been dealing with for years. And it couldn’t have ended in a worse tragedy.”
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