2 Charged With Murder After Gun Sale Turns Deadly In Naperville

NAPERVILLE, IL — An Aurora man and woman have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with an Aug. 29 Naperville shooting that police say happened when a gun sale turned deadly. Desire Gray, 19, and Robert Chatman-Jones, 20, both of the 1900 block of Ashwood Lane, were also charged with aggravated battery in the Amersale Drive shooting, which fatally injured Coreon Davis, 18, of Naperville.

Police say Gray and Chatman-Jones and Gray met Davis and another boy, 17, in a parking lot, where Chatman-Jones had arranged to buy a gun. According to prosecutors, Chatman-Jones approached the car Davis and the other teen were in and gave Davis money. Davis counted the money and informed Chatman-Jones that the payment was "short," which led to a struggle between both men, a news release said.

Chatman-Jones is accused of firing a gun into the car, striking Davis in the head and hand, and hitting the other teen in the left leg. Police say Chatman-Jones and Gray then fled the scene. When Naperville police got to the scene, they say they found two .40-caliber shell casings and more than $100 in cash in the parking lot.

Aurora police later found Davis and the 17-year-old Aurora boy with gunshot wounds in a car near the intersection of McCoy Drive and Vaughn Road. Both teens were taken to a nearby hospital. The boy was released after treatment. Davis was transferred to Loyola Hospital and later died.

Chatman-Jones and Gray were taken into custody on Aug. 30 in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Aurora.

"I commend the Naperville Police Department for their truly exceptional police work that enabled us to take these defendants into custody just one day after the murder,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in the news release.

Berlin added, “Illegal gun sales and the violence that can erupt from such transactions, as is alleged in this case, will not be tolerated in DuPage County. Considering this violence allegedly occurred in a heavily populated commercial district in the middle of a Sunday afternoon, we are very grateful no innocent bystanders were injured."

Naperville Police Department's Interim Police Chief Jason Arres said the city's police have "no tolerance" for gun violence. Arres continued, "We are deeply troubled by the loss of life in this instance, but to have someone in custody in this case within twenty-four hours is a testament to the great work of our investigations personnel and their dedication to the citizens of Naperville."

Chatman-Jones is being held in DuPage County Jail on $4 million bond. Gray is being held on $1.5 million bond. Both defendants are set to appear in court Sept. 28.