Two men with violent criminal histories have been charged with murdering a 32-year-old father during a home invasion in West Rogers Park earlier this year. One of the accused men was on parole for armed robberies, and the other was on felony pretrial release when the killing occurred.
Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pekara said the deadly chain of events began on the evening of March 21 when the victim, Donovan Johnson, received a phone call from a number “associated with” 25-year-old Demontre Eason. Johnson went to buy cocaine from Eason, then returned home to the 6400 block of North Richmond. About 45 minutes later, Johnson got another call from the same number and told his girlfriend that Eason and a second man were coming over with marijuana, Pekara said.
Fearing trouble, the girlfriend, who has a concealed carry license, moved her handgun to a more accessible spot in the bedroom.
When Eason and 31-year-old Justin Neal-Guy arrived, they sat with Johnson at his computer, drank tequila with pineapple juice chasers, and decided to head to a casino around 2:30 a.m. on March 22, according to Pekara. But as Johnson collected money and belongings for the trip, the mood quickly changed.
Prosecutors said Eason and Neal-Guy briefly stepped outside before storming back in with guns drawn, demanding Johnson’s money. Johnson handed over his casino cash and another $400, allegedly while Neal-Guy kept him at gunpoint.
Eason allegedly moved Johnson’s girlfriend and their children’s bedroom, taking her phone before she could finish dialing 911. Johnson retreated to the master bedroom with two toddlers and managed to find his girlfriend’s hidden gun. Pekara said he held the weapon at his side while his children stood immediately behind him. Prosecutors said that’s when Eason and Neal-Guy opened fire, striking Johnson, who returned fire.
The gunmen fled, dropping the girlfriend’s phone in the process. Police later recovered it and lifted Eason’s fingerprints from the case, Pekara said.
CPD officers found Johnson unresponsive in the apartment, shot in the chest and thigh with a firearm at his side. He died a short time later at a hospital.
Pekara said Neal-Guy’s prints were found on a pineapple juice can at the apartment and location data from both men’s phones placed them at Johnson’s address during the murder.
Judge Ankur Srivastava ordered both men detained on Thursday.
Illinois Department of Corrections records show Neal-Guy was paroled in December 2024 after serving less than half of a 13-year sentence for two 2019 robberies. The state has now moved to revoke his parole.
Eason was already on felony pretrial release in a separate case out of Evanston, where he is accused of aggravated fleeing and aggravated battery of a peace officer in August 2023. He is the eleventh person accused of killing or trying to kill someone in Chicago this year while on pretrial release. Those cases have involved 24 victims, four of whom died.
The “not horrible” series
This report continues our coverage of individuals accused of killing, shooting, or trying to kill or shoot others on pretrial release 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. You can see all of the “not horrible” stories here.
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