The group of teenagers called it “gooning,” authorities say, slang for the beating in the street of unsuspecting people they perceived to be drunk or elderly or otherwise defenseless.
Last weekend, the practice allegedly cost 59-year-old Clyde Cannamore his life, when a group of youths beat him and threw him into traffic on Ashland Avenue. The auto repairman was on his way to a neighborhood lounge when he was attacked in the 5800 block of South Ashland Avenue and shoved into the path of an oncoming car.
On Wednesday, the first person to be charged in the slaying appeared in court–an 8th-grader who stood before Judge Mary Margaret Brosnahan in a baggy gray football jersey. Anthony Burns, 15, was ordered held in lieu of $350,000 bail. Burns is being charged as an adult.
Burns and a group of friends were out “gooning” for fun Saturday about 10:50 p.m., Assistant State’s Atty. Barbara Dawkins said.
“They were looking for people, alcoholics or drug addicts, to beat up,” Dawkins said. “They spotted [Cannamore] down the street.”
Dawkins said Burns has admitted in a videotaped statement that he first rapped and did a dance for Cannamore before punching him in the face. Another youth then attempted to punch him before pushing him into traffic, she said.
Cannamore, of the 5700 block of South Marshfield Avenue, was fatally struck by a car. Police have said as many as six youths may have been involved in the attack.
Dawkins said authorities have identified four eyewitnesses to the crime, but police said no one else is in custody.
Police also said they are searching for at least six other teens they believe to be involved.
Burns lives with his mother in the 5700 block of South Justine Street and attends Hinton Elementary School on the South Side, Assistant Public Defender Mark Levitt said. He has no adult criminal background, Levitt said.
Family members said Burns has only been in trouble for “kid stuff,” and that they were shocked by his arrest.
“He’s never been in trouble with the law,” said his sister, Lolita Phillips. “I never thought anything like that would happen. We were always taught not to disrespect your elders.”
Phillips said her mother has always been strict about whom her children could hang out with. Burns likes basketball and swimming and does well in school, she said.
“He was going to graduate this year, but now that’s messed up,” Phillips said.
At a news conference Wednesday, Englewood District Cmdr. Tina Skahill called Cannamore “the victim of a vicious beating.”
After being beaten by “fists and feet,” Cannamore was then thrown into traffic. He suffered internal injuries to his brain and stomach and a fractured pelvis, Skahill said.
Police began canvassing the area shortly after the homicide and again Sunday following an outdoor roll call in West Englewood, Skahill said.
Officers Arthur Davis and Kenneth Watkins said information they received from residents led them to Burns, who was arrested Monday evening at his home without incident.
“A lot of people came forward and gave us bits and pieces of information we were able to put together,” Davis said.
Skahill said police believe the group of teenagers may have attacked others around 59th Street and Ashland Avenue but said police were unsure of the number of prior incidents.
Regulars at the bar Cannamore was headed to, The Remy Room, said he was a friendly person who worked on auto bodies for a living. The establishment’s owner said area attacks by teens are not uncommon.
“They’re like a pack of little wolves,” Amos Clay said Wednesday. “Whatever they can find to prey on, they prey on.”
