Man gets 100 years for gunning down aspiring hip-hop producer

A man was sentenced Thursday to 100 years in prison for shooting and killing an aspiring music producer outside a South Side gas station in 2008.

Darryl Evans, 30, was previously convicted of first-degree murder for the shooting that happened during a failed robbery attempt outside a gas station on April 26, 2008, according to a statement from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.

Early that morning, 25-year-old Michael Phipps Jr. and his friends were driving home from a roller rink when they stopped for gas at the Mobil station near 76th and State, prosecutors said.

Phipps—a producer who worked for Chicago hip-hop label Meen—was pumping gas when Evans and Jamarr Jackson walked up, showed a handgun and demanded his jewelry, the statement said.

Phipps first tried to grab the gun from Evans, then tried to run away when Evans pointed it directly at him, prosecutors said.

Evans shot Phipps in the back as he ran, then shot at several witnesses before taking off in his car. He left behind Jackson, who stole Phipps’ car and was arrested soon after, prosecutors said.

Evans painted his car and went into hiding before he was arrested about three months after the attack, prosecutors said.

Jackson testified against Evans in exchange for a 21-year sentence for his involvement, the statement said.