CHICAGO — Prosecutors this week charged a Chicago man with chasing down and murdering a woman in East Garfield Park earlier this year. Judge Charles Beach ordered Christopher Hurt, 29, detained to await trial.
Hurt, who was on bail for a stolen motor vehicle and gun case at the time of the murder, is the 25th person accused of shooting, killing, or trying to shoot or kill someone in Chicago this year while awaiting trial for a felony. The cases involve at least 40 victims, 13 of whom died.
The victim, 43-year-old Vanessa Moorer, was standing with a group of people in the first block of South Whipple when Hurt and two unidentified accomplices approached with handguns around 6:17 p.m. on May 16, prosecutors said.
Moorer ran for cover as the gunmen opened fire. Hurt chased Moorer behind a car and shot her multiple times at close range while she was on the ground, according to the state’s detention petition. She died from gunshot wounds throughout her head and body, a CPD report said.
Hurt was also shot during the incident, and he went to St. Bernard Hospital for treatment, prosecutors said. DNA testing allegedly linked him to blood drops found on Whipple Street.
Beach, the judge, noted in his detention order that police found a video of Hurt being shot at the murder scene.
The shooting occurred about three months after prosecutors charged Hurt with unlawful use of a weapon and possessing a stolen motor vehicle.
In that case, Chicago police officers said Hurt was found driving a Mercedes that had been stolen from the Cook County sheriff’s police lot in Maywood. He ran from officers who pulled him over, and cops said they found a loaded handgun along his flight path as they retraced his steps.
Prosecutors charged him with possessing a stolen motor vehicle, a felony, and a misdemeanor unlawful use of a weapon. Judge Kelly McCarthy ordered him to pay a $500 bail deposit to get out of jail. He went home the same day, February 4.
The “not horrible” series
This report continues our coverage of individuals accused of killing, shooting, or trying to kill or shoot others awaiting trial for a felony allegation. CWBChicago began our series of reports in November 2019 after Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans publicly stated, “We haven’t had any horrible incidents occur” under the court’s bond reform initiative.
The actual number of murders and shootings committed by people awaiting trial for felony allegations is undoubtedly much higher than the numbers seen here. Since 2017, CPD has brought charges in less than 5% of non-fatal shootings and 33% of murders, according to the city’s data.
Previous reporting
#6: Man killed 1, tried to kill another while on felony bail, prosecutors say (April 29, 2023)
#15: Hitman killed target while on bail for trying to disarm a cop, prosecutors say (July 22, 2023)
#19: 3 charged in armed robbery turned shooting in Homan Square (September 2, 2023)
