Police issue warrant for man accused of killing teen, wounded mom in Harvey

Police have issued an arrest warrant for a 20-year-old man accused of killing a teenager and critically wounding the teen’s mom in a shooting Saturday afternoon inside a south suburban Harvey gas station.

Earl Truss, who has been living in Harvey for the last eight months, is wanted in connection with the shooting, Harvey police spokesman Sean Howard announced Monday. Before Harvey, authorities believe, Truss lived in south suburban Lansing.

About 3:45 p.m. Saturday, officers responding to a call of a shooting in a gas station near Wood Street and Sibley Boulevard found 17-year-old Juwan Benson unresponsive and his mom critically injured, Howard said.

Benson, who lived in the 100 block of West Sibley Boulevard, less than two blocks from the shooting, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. The woman was taken in critical condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

As of Monday afternoon, Benson’s mother remained in “critical but stable condition,” Howard said.

Witnesses at the scene told police Benson got into an argument with another male — later identified as Truss — at the entrance of the gas station, authorities said.

Truss then opened fire from the doorway, Howard said, adding that Benson and his mom know Truss.

“This was not a random act on the gas station,” he said. “We think these individuals may have been targeted by the shooter.”

Howard warned members of the general public that Truss is considered armed and dangerous.

“If anyone should see him, dial 911,” Howard said. “Don’t take matters into your own hands.”