Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Park Forest police released a press release Saturday morning stating that an additional arrest has been made in the 2008 shooting death of 24-year-old Jonathan M. Edwards of Hammond, IN.
The press release states that on May 11, 2008, members of the Park Forest Police Department responded to several 911 phone calls reporting “shots fired” in the first block of Hemlock Street in Park Forest. Upon arrival, police say they observed a man, later identified as Jonathan Edwards, 24, lying in the street. Edwards appeared to have suffered at least one gunshot wound from a large caliber firearm, police said in the release.
Park Forest Fire Department Paramedics arrived on the scene and transported Edwards to St. James hospital in Olympia fields where he later died, the release said.
Police subsequently requested the assistance of the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force (SSMCTF) in the homicide investigation.
During the investigation, the release said, it was learned that Ouma Williams, 23 in 2010, and Jamar Williams, 29 in 2010, were allegedly involved in the homicide of Jonathan Edwards. They were subsequently charged with first degree murder on May 7, 2010, by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, the release said.
The investigation has continued since that time and the release said additional information recently came to light with the assistance of the FBI and other federal agencies.
In April 2011, detectives from the Park Forest Police Department, South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office traveled to the state of Georgia where a subject was interviewed regarding the homicide investigation of Jonathan Edwards.
On May 3, 2011, Joseph Fleming, Sr. was indicated by a Cook County Grand Jury on a charge of solicitation and conspiracy to commit murder regarding Mr. Edwards’ death, the release said.
In the course of their investigation, the release said police learned that the death of Jonathan Edwards was a case of “mistaken identity.” The release said police learned that Edwards was allegedly killed in retaliation for the death of Joseph Fleming Junior, which occurred one day earlier on May 10, 2008, in Chicago Heights.
Park Forest Police said in the release that the homicide investigation of Jonathan Edwards is still ongoing and additional subjects who police believe are involved in Edwards’ death continue to be investigated and future charges may be forthcoming.
“Detectives from the Park Forest Police Department will continue to seek murder charges against anyone found to be involved in the murder of this innocent victim, including the conspiracy or obstruction during the investigation,” the release concluded.
