As detectives worked to build a murder case Tuesday against three suspects in the South Side robbery and shooting of Lee Richardson, his family mourned the Navy veteran who had hoped to become a rap producer.
Richardson, 31, was gunned down Monday afternoon in an armed robbery outside his Roseland home. Richardson, whom family members called “Little Lee” because his father also is named Lee, was the older brother of the New York Knicks’ Quentin Richardson.
“Lee was so exceptional. He was always joking and was just a jolly guy. If he had a bad moment, he never let it show,” said his aunt, Sandra Collins.
While the family obviously took pride in Quentin Richardson’s accomplishments on the basketball court, Collins added, “All those kids are good kids. They are all well-educated kids.”
Police said his brother’s fame was not a motive for the robbery.
Lee Richardson was leaving the house with his father at about noon Monday when the robbers pulled up to the curb at 114th Street and Parnell Avenue in a gray mini-van. They stole the younger man’s wallet and shot him four times, police said.
Celena Evans, 22, a neighbor, said she was at home when she heard three shots. Soon after, she saw a police car speeding south on Parnell before it stopped farther down the block, she said. Two officers got out and ran down an alley near the intersection of 115th Street and Parnell.
The father and son may have been headed to Lee Sr.’s home in the south suburbs when the attack happened, Collins said.
Lee Richardson died late Monday afternoon at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
After a chase, all three suspects were in custody Monday. Charges had not been approved Tuesday evening, police said. Police said they recovered two handguns and items they believed were stolen in earlier robberies.
