Paralyzed Chicago Heights man shot, killed during argument
BY STEVE METSCH smetsch@southtownstar.com July 31, 2012 9:38AM
Emma Edmonds, a neighbor and friend of Kevin Elison, stands in the driveway at 537 Concord Court, Chicago Heights, where he was shot and killed last night. Edmond said Elison "was a good man and didn't deserve this." Elison, who was confined to a wheelchair. | Larry Ruehl~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: September 2, 2012 6:13AM
A paralyzed Chicago Heights man who was a registered sex offender and had an extensive criminal record was shot and killed Monday night during an argument at his home, police said.
Kevin Allison, 42, was found slumped in his wheelchair in the driveway of his home in the 500 block of Concord Court with a single gunshot wound in the head, police said.
Allison was pronounced dead at 9:44 p.m. at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
A source said Allison had been arguing with people when someone shot him.
No one was in custody as of late Tuesday afternoon. The South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force is assisting in the investigation.
Chicago Heights Police Chief of Detectives Joe Bruni said no one had come forward with information about the shooting.
According to the Illinois State Police sex offender information website, Allison was convicted of aggravated criminal sex abuse/bodily harm in Cook County when he was 27. His victim was 38.
Allison had an extensive criminal record dating back to 1991, court records show. Some of the past charges have included aggravated battery, aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, battery, resisting a police officer, criminal trespassing, assault and robbery. He served time in jail for several offenses, according to court records.
Most recent, Allison was charged with battery and resisting arrest after a June 25 incident in the 500 block of North Concord Drive, according to police reports. There was no indication that the incident had anything to do with Monday’s shooting.
Neighbors on Tuesday didn’t deny that Allison had his problems and, as one said, “a tough life.”
But several agreed with neighbor and friend Emma Edmond, who said Allison was “a good man and didn’t deserve this.”
Edmond said Allison was paralyzed from the waist down after a shooting about 15 years ago. She was shocked that someone would shoot a man in a wheelchair.
“This should have never happened,” she said.
Allison, nicknamed “Kevo,” moved into the Beacon Hill neighborhood from Harvey three years ago, she said.
“He brought a lot of joy to Concord,” she said. “Kevo, there was something special about him. You know, he talked a lot of (trash) but he didn’t mean no harm.
“I used to take him to the medical supply place to get him things for his wheelchair. I used to go grocery shopping for him. I used to cook for him. I used to give him cold water when he’d be riding through here. He called me ‘Mama Emma,’ ” she said.
“I don’t know why, but I took to him. If he was out here getting into it with some person, I could tell him, ‘Kevo, shut your ... mouth. Get your (butt) home.’ And he would listen to me,” Edmond said. “But I wasn’t there (Monday) night. I was in the house watching TV.”
Latrisha Bell called Allison “a real happy guy” who enjoyed listening to loud rap music. Allison also enjoyed arguing, she said.
“He had his days. He may have a drink or two. He talked a lot of (trash),” Bell said.
But he often was friendly and smiling moments later, she said.
Bell said she last saw Allison shortly before he died.
“I walked him down (to his house), and 15 minutes later, I heard one ‘pop’ and I saw all the cops flying down the street,” Bell said.
Another neighbor, Maggie Carroll, said Allison’s killer “could be anybody.”
“So many people are in (Concord Court),” she said. “That is a hangout spot. People play basketball, play music, drink their beer. He was a magnet for people.”
