No bail for man charged with shooting woman to death in Bronzeville

Elijah Clippard, 31, faces a murder charge in the June 15 shooting of Crystal Crockett, Chicago police said.

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Bail was denied Thursday for a man charged with fatally shooting a woman earlier this month in Bronzeville on the South Side.

Elijah Clippard, 31, faces a murder charge in the June 15 shooting of Crystal Crockett, Chicago police said.

Clippard and Crockett had been dating for over a year, and Crockett had given birth to their two daughters in March, according to a bond proffer prepared by Cook County prosecutors.

Both babies were still in the NICU at Rush University Medical Center the evening of June 14, when Clippard and Crockett were seen on surveillance video at the hospital, prosecutors said.

At 6:15 a.m. the next day, Clippard is seen on surveillance video driving a vehicle with Crockett in the passenger seat, prosecutors said. He parks the car in an empty lot behind an apartment complex where Crockett used to live in the 4500 block of South Wabash. 

Clippard got out of the car while holding a firearm in his right hand and appeared “seemingly agitated,” prosecutors said. He looked around “as if to make sure no one is there” and allegedly fired at Crockett multiple times.

“Smoke from the gunfire is seen filling the car” and coming out of the passenger side as Crockett opened the door to flee, prosecutors said. Clippard dragged Crockett away from the car and kicked her. He then allegedly aimed the gun directly at the back of her head and shot her multiple times.

As he fled, Clippard allegedly turned back around and fired more shots at Crockett, prosecutors said. A witness told police she heard gun shots and found Crockett. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Clippard is seen on CTA surveillance video at a nearby train station a few minutes after the shooting, prosecutors said.

Police arrested Clippard Wednesday in the Eden Green housing development on the Far South Side, where he lived.

Clippard was ordered held without bail Thursday. He is expected back in court July 14.

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